The CWC set for the quarter final stage
As the Club World Cup reaches its final stages, we take a look at the remaining eight clubs that are still alive in this competition. The remaining eight clubs are Fluminense, Al-Hilal, Palmeiras, Chelsea, PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund. As each team gets assessed, we evaluate their performance so far, their chance of winning, their star player, and other key moments from the tournament.
Fluminense hoping to have a real go at Al-Hilal
Fluminense will certainly not have expected to reach this far after being drawn with Inter in the Round of 16. Now, going on to the semifinals is a real possibility for Fluminense, and everyone associated with the club is optimistic about what could be in this tournament. With their defense, led by Thiago Silva, proving to be a fortress, Al-Hilal can expect to struggle with breaking down their well-organized low block. Their counter-attacking threat also offers the opportunity for experienced minds like German Cano to have a go at shaky backlines.
Al-Hilal to fancy their chances after dumping City out
Coming off the back of a stellar victory against Man City, who were one of the tournament favorites, Al-Hilal will be brimming with confidence. It is no doubt that their recent victory against the European heavyweight will have them down as the favorites to take down Fluminense. What will make it an even cagier encounter is the fact that both clubs have a defensive approach. However, with Marcos Leonardo’s ability to get in behind defenders, as well as display deadly finishing, it may just be difficult to see anything other than a victory for the Saudi giants.
Palmeiras hoping to upset Chelsea
Mauricio’s volley against Inter Miami in the dying minutes not only earned them top position but also resulted in them getting a more favorable draw against Botafogo rather than facing Bayern Munich. Palmeiras will now face a much sterner test when they take on the former European champions, Chelsea, on Friday. The Brazilian club will be confident that they can rely on Paulinho, who has been scoring crucial goals of late in this tournament. Although Chelsea may be favored, South American sides have shown that they have come to this tournament to play.
Chelsea will fancy their chances of reaching the final
While Chelsea may come into this tie as favorites and full of confidence, Palmeiras are not to be underestimated. The Brazilian side has shown they are capable of putting on a strong defensive display, which can be frustrating to many attacking sides. Chelsea, however, being known for their deadly counter-attacking overloads, have the ability to unlock any defense and create dangerous opportunities. Their ability to control the midfield through Fernandez and Caicedo is able to draw opposing defenders to them and pick out pockets of space. Chelsea are favorites to march on to the final, and you would not put winning it past them.
PSG to face stern Bayern test
It should not come as a shock that Paris Saint-Germain completely demolished Inter Miami. With the French side being the favorites for the competition, you would expect them to edge Bayern in their cagey encounter. Luis Enrique has finally managed to find balance for the French side, with the team no longer being centered around stars. With their quick link-up play, combination passes, as well as their ability to create many opportunities, Les Parisiens is a nightmare for any defense to come against.
A Bayern victory to boost momentum in the squad
Bayern Munich may not be favored to edge PSG in this clash, but they certainly will prove to be a much sterner test for Les Parisiens. The Bavarians certainly have the quality as well as the weapons in their arsenal to hurt PSG. Despite PSG being able to create loads of chances and dictate the rhythm of games, their backline is not the most secure. Bayern, however, on the other hand, are also susceptible to counterattacks. A win for Bayern will be a huge step in the right direction as they aim to return to the pinnacle of football.
Madrid expected to challenge PSG for the title
This Real Madrid side looks completely different from the one we saw last season. Xabi Alonso has completely reinvented Los Blancos by implementing various strategies to get Madrid rocking. First off, he has given Guler a more central role in the midfield, which helps him dictate the flow of play. Secondly, his arrival has boosted youngsters such as Gonzalo Garcia, who is currently brimming with confidence. Thirdly, he has made it difficult to play against them by instructing his players to maintain a more compact shape when out of possession. Last but not least, he has ensured that attacking players drop deep to help when out of possession in the hopes of recovering the ball quicker. With Mbappe fully fit now Madrid will certainly not hold back and go all out against Dortmund.
Dortmund hoping not to be fazed by a powerful Madrid side
Although a victory may seem unlikely for the German side, they will certainly make Real Madrid sweat if they are to progress. Despite Dortmund not being backed to go through, they can exploit one weakness that Real Madrid has, which is the gaps between defenders. With a striker like Guirassy, Real Madrid will want their backline to limit as much space as possible. They also have a strong defensive setup, which could see Real Madrid struggle to create chances and fail to be able to play through their defense.
