Club World Cup betting tips: Chelsea to shut out Fluminense, PSG to edge Real Madrid in semi-finals
We’ve reached the semi-final stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which means just three more opportunities to grab some cash.
I can’t even be arsed to tap the punchline into an open net after that perfect set-up.
Sports News Blitz’s George Dempsey has two more rounds to sit through before being set free from the Club World Cup.
Our anti-Chelsea agenda has been flagging since Flamengo propped up our betting efforts with a surprise win early in the tournament. If you can’t beat them, join them.
After losing both bets in the last round, we’re just glad this terrible tournament is almost over.
We’ve seen enough water breaks, stadium evacuations, and crowdless goal celebrations to last a lifetime.
At this point, the only thing hotter than the weather is the stench of Gianni Infantino’s latest cash grab.
Credit where it’s due, though, as no other football competition has ever made us miss the Nations League.
Still, it’s not over yet. And if we’ve got to keep watching, we might as well try to squeeze out one final bit of value.
Fluminense vs Chelsea – Tuesday 8 July
Fluminense have, by all accounts, done their bit for the neutral over the past few weeks.
The Brazilian side have edged Inter Milan and Al-Hilal, out-performing expectations and parking every available bus along the way.
But they’ll need to be even more stubborn this time, and without Matheus Martinelli in midfield, it’s going to be a long evening.
Flu’s plan hasn’t changed all tournament. Stay compact, hope for a moment on the break or a well-aimed corner, and pray that 87-year-old goalkeeper Fabio has one more clean sheet in him.
The Blues haven’t dazzled anyone either, but they’ve handled their business.
They edged Palmeiras and pulled away from Benfica in extra time.
Enzo Maresca has them playing safe, with Fernandez and Caicedo dictating the tempo and Cole Palmer continuing to carry the creative load.
There are selection headaches – Delap and Colwill are suspended, and Reece James still can’t string 90 minutes together – but there’s enough depth in this Chelsea side to paper over the gaps.
Without Martinelli, Fluminense will struggle to create anything sustained. They’ll sit deep, defend in numbers, and probably hold firm for a while.
But over 90 minutes, Chelsea should eventually pick the lock.
There’s a good chance this game features two or fewer goals, so given the nature of it, we don’t expect to see anything too expansive from the Blues when they take the lead. We’ll back a win with a clean sheet.
Suggested bet: Chelsea to win to nil at 17/10
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Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid – Wednesday 9 July
PSG beat Bayern 2-0 in the quarter-finals despite finishing with nine men. Even shorthanded, they stayed organised. And unlike Madrid, they’ve barely put a foot wrong all tournament.
Luis Enrique’s side have kept four clean sheets and scored 12 in five games. Wins over Atletico, Inter Miami, and Bayern came without conceding. Botafogo was the only slip, and it looked like a rest day.
The issue here is suspensions. Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez are both out, so Lucas Beraldo steps in. Not ideal with Madrid’s front line waiting.
Still, PSG look composed. Ruiz and Vitinha have controlled the midfield, and Joao Neves continues to shine.
Madrid just about edged Dortmund 3-2. Gonzalo and Fran Garcia scored early, but the defence creaked late on. That win looks better on paper than it felt in real-time.
Xabi Alonso’s team have quality but haven’t convinced. Valverde and Tchouameni anchor well, but Huijsen’s ban adds to the issues at the back.
PSG are the form team. They’ve had fewer scares and look more confident in their set-up. Even with absentees, they should control the tempo and edge it.
Suggested bet: PSG to win at 13/10
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