Club World Cup: Predictions for both semi-final games

Fluminense are unbeaten in 11 matches- Tuesday's match is Chelsea's third against Brazilian opponents at the 2025 Club World Cup - Paris Saint-Germain have won nine of their last 10 games Chelsea continue to lead the Premier League's push for Club World Cup glory and face in-form Fluminense in the first of the competition's semi-finals on Tuesday. There is then a titanic tussle on Wednesday between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Both matches take place at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, as does Sunday's final. The Brazilian sides have impressed at the Club World Cup and 2023 Copa Libertadores winners Fluminense face Chelsea on Tuesday. Chelsea lost 3-1 to Flamengo in the group stages but responded to qualify for the knockout stages and most recently beat Palmeiras 2-1 in the last eight. Fluminense defeated Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal by the same scoreline after recording an impressive 2-0 win over Inter Milan in the last 16. Their fortunes have been transformed following Renato Gaucho's return for a sixth spell in charge in April.
While Chelsea's squad is being built around youth, Flu are captained by 40-year-old former Blues skipper Thiago Silva, while goalkeeper Fabio is 44. Their experience has been vital in helping Gaucho's side see games out and despite being without suspended pair Juan Pablo Freytes and Matinelli, they are expected to make life tough for a young Chelsea team. The Blues are without Levi Colwill and Liam Delap who serve bans and Reece James will also be assessed after his late withdrawal from the team to face Palmeiras. Tuesday's match could be a battle of attrition and extra-time might be required. Score prediction: Fluminense 1-1 Chelsea - Chelsea to win AET The second semi-final sees the last two winners of the Champions League meet in New Jersey as Paris Saint-Germain, who lifted the trophy for the first time in May, take on the team they succeeded, Real Madrid. PSG started 2024-25 slowly but Luis Enrique's young side soon developed into a dazzling outfit and beat Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich. Real Madrid lost to Arsenal, who PSG beat in the semi-finals, at the quarter-finals stage and have since changed manager, replacing Carlo Ancelotti with Xabi Alonso. The former Bayer Leverkusen boss, who spent five years as a player at the Bernabeu, is only five games into his reign but has already had an impact. Alonso has switched from a back four to a back three, allowing new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold to play as a wing-back and has a decision to make in attack after Kylian Mbappe scored his first goal of the competition against Borussia Dortmund in the last eight. Gonzalo Garcia has been a standout performer for Los Blancos but might have to step aside for Mbappe to face his former team, while recent signing Dean Huijsen is unavailable after a red card in the win over BVB. PSG are without Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez after their sendings off in the 2-0 last-eight win over Bayern Munich. However, Ousmane Dembele scored his first goal of the Club World Cup after coming off the bench and with him in line for his first start in the USA, could inspire an entertaining victory. Score prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Real Madrid