Club World Cup: The Blues Head Down to Georgia

Los Angeles FC vs Chelsea

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea will walk out at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday, for their opening Club World Cup tie against Steven Cherundolo’s Los Angeles FC. 

The weather will be hot and sunny as the Londoners meet their USA opponents, who may be more used to the 30-degree temperatures, but the Blues will be hopeful of building on a good season in the Premier League and a European success too, with a positive pre-season at this showcase tournament.

The competition is made up of eight groups of four, and Club World Cup: Chelsea vs Los Angeles is the standout game in Group D, which also comprises of Esperance de Tunis and Brazilian club Flamengo. The pre-match Chelsea vs Los Angeles betting odds say the Blues will start with a win…but they will meet a couple of old faces who could throw a spanner in the works.  

 

Talking Points

Double edged sword for Chelsea

Europe’s biggest clubs are viewing the World Club Cup as a mixed blessing; on the one hand it’s an opportunity to blood new players while playing in a high profile competition with generous prize money and obvious commercial advantages. But then it’s a fairly rigorous schedule and one which could stretch a squad rather too close to the new domestic league seasons, much as a World Cup often does.

But Chelsea will view it as a positive to be in prestigious company which excludes 2025 Premier League champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal. Maresca’s men will be joined by Manchester City, on the basis that the two clubs won the Champions League in 2021 and 2023 and the Blues come into the competition on the back of their Europa Conference League final triumph when they beat Real Betis 4-1.  

All eyes will be on the Premier League fixtures which are out next Wednesday 18^th June, but before then Chelsea will hope to be off the mark in the Club World Cup.

 

Player to watch: Liam Delap

Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market already, bringing in Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo and Estevao Willian, but the signing of Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap for a fee of £20m rising to £30m has attracted the most attention. The 22 year old has signed a six year contract with Chelsea after his breakout season at Portman Road. As a young player he made two appearances for Manchester City before going out on loan to Stoke City and Hull City, and then he scored 12 goals in 37 games for the Tractor Boys last season. The England U21 star will hope for his chance to make some Chelsea vs Los Angeles highlights though he may have to bide his time if Maresca chooses to start with Nicolas Jackson.  

 

Los Angeles needs some good news

Chelsea’s opponents have had a decent run in the Major League Soccer Western Conference, happily ensconced in fifth place and ready to progress; but LA is a city in need of a cheer-up after a week of violence erupted in the face of the US government’s crackdown on illegal immigrants. Last week, during LA’s win over Sporting Kansas City fans protested. We always say that sport can break down barriers and transcend politics…so let’s hope the Los Angeles fans get the break they deserve over the next couple of weeks.

 

Player to watch: Olivier Giroud

Chelsea fans will hope to see an old boy line up against them in the shape of French striker Olivier Giroud, who signed for Los Angeles after his contract at AC Milan expired last summer. The 38-year-old has had an illustrious career as a target man, number ten and out-and-out striker, scoring 73 goals for Arsenal, 17 for Chelsea, 39 for AC Milan and 57 for France.

In April Giroud scored is first goal in Major League Soccer, in a 3-3 draw with Portland Timbers and, at 38 years and six months of age, that made him the oldest European player ever to score in the USA league. 

One player the Blues’ fans may not be so happy to see is veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, another France legend who spent much of his career in London. In his 12 years at Tottenham Hotpsur Lloris was often a frustrating last line of defence against Chelsea, a superb shot stopper, and a leader on the pitch as a World Cup winner with Les Bleus.      

 

History

Chelsea are six times Premier League champions, twice Champions League winners, twice Europa League winners and now the Europa Conference League champions, but on Monday they meet a team in its infancy.

Founded in 2014 LAFC won their first MLS Shield in 2019 and then won it again in 2022, and this is a rare chance to pit themselves against the elite clubs in world football.

Chelsea finished the season in fine form, with five wins from six while Los Angeles had three wins and three draws, and are unbeaten in ten.  

 

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 1.27 to win, Chelsea are hot favourites to see off LAFC, who can be backed at 7.34 with the draw priced at 5.03…and I believe they will. 

   

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