Chelsea vs Al Hilal will decide FIFA Club World Cup fixtures

It’s finally matchday. I (the writer) may be alone in this sentiment, but I don’t particularly care. I have been waiting for the beginning of the Club World Cup since the moment Chelsea secured the Champions League trophy in May of 2021. OK, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. I celebrated the victory like many others before swiftly slapping away at the keys on my poor MacBook, trying to get a reactionary article up immediately after the victory. Point is, I’ve waited a long time for this moment and this is evidenced by the unnatural amount of pieces I’ve published on the competition since that moment. It’s finally time to kick off the prestigious tournament.

The Blues will enter the fray on Wednesday as they come up against AFC Champions League winner Al Hilal. The Saudi Arabian club already has a game under its belt in Abu Dhabi, defeating host club Al Jazira 6-1 last weekend. Chelsea will be getting all it can handle in Leonardo Jardim’s Al Hilal club that features a number of recognizable faces. The match is set to be one of the best in the tournament to date, which is fitting because it’s the last match required to decide the bracket for the remainder of the competition after the first semifinal’s completion.

 Chelsea vs Al Hilal is the last decisive game in the Club World Cup bracket

The first half of both the final and third place game are already set following the result on Tuesday. South American champion Palmeiras—one of the tournament’s most complete teams—defeated its opponent, Al Ahly, by a score of 2-0. While the scoreline may make it look like an overwhelming win for the Brazilian outfit, the Egyptians put in a valiant effort. Al Ahly finished with more shots (14 to 12), more shots on target (five to four), higher possession percentage (58 to 42), a better pass completion percentage (81 to 77), more passes (564 to 410) and more corner kicks (four to three) than its Latin American opponent throughout the match. Based on these statistics, many would say the CAF Champions League winner was unlucky not to reach the final.

Regardless, both squads represent a formidable opponent in the next round of fixtures. The winner of the Chelsea versus Al Hilal contest will have the pleasure of meeting Palmeiras for the chance at a trophy at the weekend. Meanwhile, the loser will have to find the motivation to compete with a relentless Ah Ahly team in the third place match. These ties will conclude this year’s installment of the elite competition.

If your nerves haven’t set in yet like mine have, you won’t have to wait too long. The Blues are just one win away from reaching the Club World Cup final for the second time in their storied history. The 2012 journey ended in heartbreak by the slimmest of margins, so it’s hard to be confident in the present day, despite the world declaring that Chelsea is the overwhelming favorite.

It all seems too familiar in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t it? Our beloved club is on a crash course with a Brazilian giant just one decade removed from the crushing loss to Corinthians. Palmeiras awaits in the final and although Cesar Azpilicueta was the only one still in the club’s ranks to witness that loss first hand, there is hopefully a feeling of vengeance brewing within the team. The Blues are striving to bring home the CWC title for the first time, after all, which should be enough to get every player out of bed this week. This beautiful piece of silverware would complete the club’s trophy cabinet and validate the supporters’ songs stating “we’ve won it all.”

How do you think the second semifinal shakes out? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!