Esperance Tunis vs Chelsea

Chelsea can secure a spot in the Club World Cup's round of 16 if they avoid losing to Esperance Tunis in their upcoming match on Tuesday in Philadelphia.

Currently, the Blues sit second in Group D, trailing group leaders Flamengo by three points, who have already advanced. Chelsea are tied on points with ES Tunis, setting the stage for a critical showdown.

Esperance Tunis kicked off their Club World Cup journey with a 2-0 loss to Flamengo on June 17 but rebounded with a strong 1-0 win against Los Angeles FC. The Red and Yellows, also on three points, match Chelsea’s tally in third place. A win against the Premier League side would propel them into the last 16, but a draw won’t suffice due to Chelsea’s better goal difference.

Coached by Maher Kanzari, Tunis earned their tournament berth as the highest-ranked eligible CAF team over the past four years. This marks their fourth appearance in the competition, having competed in 2011, 2018, and 2019. Since April, they’ve only suffered one defeat—the loss to Flamengo—and their recent victory over LAFC has boosted their confidence heading into this clash.

On the other hand, Chelsea started their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over LAFC but stumbled in their next match, taking a 1-0 lead against Flamengo on June 20 before falling 3-1. The Blues struggled in the second half, compounded by Nicolas Jackson’s red card, leaving Enzo Maresca’s team with work to do to progress.

Thanks to their superior goal difference, Chelsea hold the edge for second place, meaning a win or draw on Tuesday will see them through. However, a second consecutive loss would knock them out, raising serious concerns for the English side.

Chelsea earned their place in the tournament as the 2020-21 Champions League winners, marking their third appearance in the Club World Cup, following participations in 2012 and 2021. They claimed the title in their most recent outing.