The importance of the Club World Cup for a football fan generally hinges on whether or not his or her favorite club is taking part in the competition. Needless to say, this year’s edition has the undivided attention of Chelsea supporters, many of whom even traveled to Abu Dhabi in an effort to rival the reported frenzied enthusiasm of Palmeiras’ fanbase. The Copa Libertadores holders were extremely impressive in their 2-0 semi-final victory over Al Ahly, a win which certainly put the Blues on upset alert heading into Saturday’s final.
Thankfully, the gambling community is giving Palmeiras a deserved level of respect, which it certainly did not afford Chelsea’s opponent in the CWC semifinal, Al Hilal. Taking a small flyer on the Brazilian side is a tempting proposition for anyone who loves a plus sign, myself included, but there’s usually a reason why Las Vegas favors one team over the other.
Here is your complete gambling guide ahead of Chelsea’s Club World Cup final match-up against Palmeiras on Saturday
As a relatively new Blues supporter who has only been following football for about a decade, I just missed out on the pain of Chelsea’s 2012 humiliation at the hands of Paolo Guerrero and Corinthians. Still, the vibe on social media has more than informed me of the gravity of this final. A win will ensure the club’s completion of world football dominance under Roman Abramovich’s ownership and hopefully eradicate many of the demons that come with being the most recent European side to lose the Club World Cup.
If watching Chelsea matches has been difficult recently, gambling on them has been nearly impossible. The Blues’ up-and-down form has translated to the team’s performance against the Asian Handicap, as well, with marginal victories over massive underdogs like Plymouth Argyle and Al Hilal becoming the frustrating norm. One recent trend that, while profitable, has no doubt become a serious annoyance to supporters is the defense’s newfound propensity to allow goals. Chelsea has kept a clean sheet in less than half of its matches since the start of 2022, so I’ve grown rather fond of the both teams to score prop, currently at +115 odds on WynnBet. I’d definitely keep my eye on that bet as long as the number stays positive.
Palmeiras’ recent results point to a potential goal fest with the South American champs having found the back of the net in each of their previous five matches. The Brazilian club has also been known to start quickly with first half goals coming in four of those five. For this reason, I think Palmeiras over 0.5 first half goals (+240) and over 1.5 total goals scored in the match (-260) are both strong plays if you want to stay away from betting a final result.
Official odds (via WynnBet as of February 11)
Chelsea ML: -150
Palmeiras ML: +440
Draw: +280
Over/Under: 1.5 (-260/+190)
My picks
I have to be honest, I’m very nervous about Chelsea winning this match. Not nervous enough to actually put money on an upset, but I will definitely be staying away from the Asian Handicap. Instead, I’ll focus on the moneyline and bet Chelsea (-150). Give me over 1.5 total goals at -260 (we all know life is too short to bet the under) and both teams to score (+115) for the plus juice.
What are some of the things you’ll be betting on? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!