Al-Hilal vs Chelsea – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | FIFA Club World Cup 2021-22

Jorginho of Chelsea checks on Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea
Jorginho of Chelsea checks on Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea

Chelsea will look to book their place in the final stage of the FIFA Club World Cup when they take on the Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal on Wednesday night. 

Venue: Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi)

Key Statistics

Al-Hilal are unbeaten in their last six games (W5, D1).

They have scored in each of their last eight games.

Chelsea have lost just one of their last 15 games in all competitions (W8, D6).

The Blues are unbeaten in their last two games away from Stamford Bridge (D1, L2). 

Head to head

This will be the first match between both sides. 

Latest performances in all competitions

Al-Hilal: W-D-W-W-W

Chelsea: W-W-D-L-W

Al-Hilal

Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal will look to book their place in the finals of the Club World Cup (CWC) when they face European champions, Chelsea.

The Saudi club booked their place in this round of the tournament by brushing aside Al Jazira 6-1 in the last round. 

They will attempt a repeat in this game to give them a place in the finals in what is their second-ever appearance at the tournament. 

While victory seems but a fantasy for Leonardo Jardim’s side, they will at least aim to be the first AFC-zone representative to avoid a 90-minute defeat in a CWC semi-final against European opposition. 

Possible Al-Hilal starting line-up

Abdullah Al-Mayouf; Saud Abdulhamid, Jang Hyun-soo, Ali Al Bulaihi, Yasser Al-Shahrani; Mohamed Kanno, Gustavo Cuéllar; Moussa Marega, Matheus Pereira, Salem Al-Dawsari; Odion Ighalo.

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Chelsea 

European champions Chelsea will begin their Club World Cup campaign with a game against Al-Hilal.

They come directly to this round of the tournament because of their pedigree and seeding as a European superpower.

 The Blues are appearing in the tournament for the second time in their history, with the 2012 edition their first appearance in history.

However, they were unsuccessful in their first attempt as they were beaten 1-0 by South American side Corinthians in the final. That defeat is still the only occasion across the last 14 CWC editions that a UEFA-zone entrant has failed to lift the trophy and so the Blues will be confident of doing better this time.

They must begin by winning this game and given the gulf in quality on paper, they are expected to at least match the winning margin of their only prior CWC victory (3-1 vs Monterrey), during which they won after boasting a half-time lead. 

The history of European clubs in this tournament will also give them some level of confidence as European clubs have kept a clean sheet in four of their last six CWC semi-finals against AFC-zone opponents.

Possible Chelsea starting line-up

Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, Malang Sarr; Mason Mount, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic; Christian Pulisic, Romelu Lukaku, Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Injured: Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Prediction

Al-Hilal 1-3 Chelsea