Evening Standard
·4 de julio de 2025
Chelsea XI vs Palmeiras: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, Joao Pedro debut, injury latest for Club World Cup

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·4 de julio de 2025
Romeo Lavia faces a late fitness test ahead of Chelsea’s Club World Cup tie
Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Malik Ouzia
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Chelsea midfielder Pedro Neto starts tonight’s Club World Cup quarter-final tie against Palmeiras, with new signing Joao Pedro on the bench ahead of a possible debut.
Pedro completed his £60m transfer from Brighton earlier in the week, and has been added to the Blues’ squad having been signed before the new registration deadline.
The Brazilian trained with his new teammates on Wednesday but is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench as fellow summer signing Liam Delap is expected to lead the line once again.
This is despite Nicolas Jackson being available for selection after serving a two-match ban for his red card in the group stage loss to Flamengo - Chelsea’s only loss in the tournament so far.
Cole Palmer is expected to offer support to Delap from out wide, although Pedro Neto may miss the showdown as he is under no pressure to play following the death of his friend Diogo Jota.
However, there is a decision to make regarding Enzo Fernandez’s role against the Brazilians.
As Moises Caicedo is absent due to suspension after he picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in the extra-time win over Benfica, the Argentine could drop deeper especially as Lavia is a doubt.
Alternatively, Maresca could keep Fernandez high up and turn to captain Reece James in central midfield like he has done previously.
In defence, Benoit Badiashile limped off against Benfica and was later spotted on crutches, making him a major doubt for the quarter-final showdown with Trevoh Chalobah on standby to partner Levi Colwill.
Palmeiras XI: Weverton, Giay, Micael, Fuchs, Vanderlan, Rios, Martinez, Estevao, Allan, Torres, Roque
Subs: Lomba, Oliveira, Naves, Benedetti, Rocha, Mayke, Veiga, Moreno, Evangelista, Anderson, Mauricio, Thalys, Lopez, Luighi, Paulinho
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; James, Fernandez; Palmer, Nkunku, Neto; Delap
Subs: Jorgensen, Penders, Slonina, Acheampong, Tosin, Sarr, Aneselmino, Essugo, Andrey Santos, Dewsbury-Hall, Madueke, George, Joao Pedro, Jackson, Guiu
Suspended: Caicedo
Time and date: 2am BST on Saturday July 4, 2025
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field