Flamengo vs Chelsea live updates: Club World Cup 2025 predictions, team news, latest score

Apart from having the best individual quality in the group, the tactical battle between the two sides will be interesting. This iteration of Flamengo and Chelsea want to press high and control the game through ball possession. There are slight differences in how they operate.

In terms of shape, Flamengo and Chelsea play out of a 4-2-3-1, but the Brazilian side push their full-backs forward while the front four occupy narrow positions to combine in the central or wide areas.

However, it differs from one game to another depending on the characteristics of the players and the opponent.

For example, Everton Soares is more keen to stick to the touchline when playing as a left winger, so Flamengo’s left-back would be narrower or deeper, in which case they would build attacks with three defenders, with the right-back occupying the wing.

As for Chelsea, they have regularly shifted to a 3-2-4-1 or 3-1-3-3 in possession, but despite their similar focus on attacking the wide areas, Maresca’s side aim to isolate their wingers in one-vs-one situations as Cole Palmer operates between the lines.

It will be interesting to see how Chelsea defend against Flamengo’s dynamic combinations, which are based on the fluid movements of the front four, who have the freedom to roam centrally or overload the wide area alongside the advancing full-back.