Club World Cup: Lucky Blues or rampaging PSG?

Chelsea face PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday; PSG are favourites, but Chelsea’s resilience could spring a surprise in a thrilling final

It's the finale of the Club World Cup, and what a way to draw the curtain: the Blues against the high-flying Parisiens... Who takes this one? (Photo credit: OPTA)

The FIFA Club World Cup winds down on Sunday with an epic clash between Premier League side Chelsea and the rampaging European champions PSG.

The Blues have been a product of luck and clinical brilliance at important points; you make your own luck, they say, but playing on the left side of the draw, where they faced Benfica, Palmeiras, and Fluminense on their way to the final, means it would be a little easier for Chelsea.

Don’t take anything away from Enzo Maresca’s side; they have had to battle their way through. From the weather conditions that halted their game against Benfica, allowing the Portuguese side back into the game and then brushing them badly in extra time, to having to do it against the Brazilians, it was a lot.

For PSG, the only anomaly was the embarrassing 1-0 reverse against Botafogo. They lost 1-0 to the Brazilian side, and that was after they destroyed Atletico Madrid 4-0. The 4-0 scorelineis fast becoming a trademark, as they dispatched Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Real Madrid by the same scoreline.

You can’t take anything away from Luis Henrique and his European champions. They have beaten the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to get here, and unless they suffer an epic collapse, they remain the favourite to win this one on Sunday.

The record between these two is quite fascinating. PSG won the last two between them in the Champions League by the same scoreline—2-1—while the other three from their last five games ended in draws; it’s going to be close on Sunday.

Let’s face it, this Chelsea side isn’t a finished article; however, they aren’t a side you’d beat mercilessly like PSG has been doing to lots of teams in this tournament. The quality of defenders for Chelsea should count for something, of course, except Enzo Maresca gets it wrong.

Cole Palmer is one to watch for Chelsea. He goes about his business casually, but he can destroy any team on his day. Enzo Fernandez is the unheralded star for Chelsea; the former Benfica midfielder has the tank for days, and his performance could determine how it goes in the midfield.

For PSG, everyone in the team is dangerous. They unleashed Joao Neves against Inter Miami, and it was Fabian Ruiz against Real Madrid. They have enough to trouble anyone, not talking about their ridiculous quality in the final third.

The fitness of Moises Caicedo is something to worry about for the Blues; if the Ecuadorian plays, then the Blues can expect a fierce midfield battle. PSG remains the clear favourite, but Chelsea has done well on days like this in the past; ask Manchester City, ask Bayern Munich.