Club World Cup Semifinals Predictions

[SBR Andy]

We are down the the last four teams in the FIFA Club World Cup. Let's take a look at the updated odds to win the tournament ahead of the semifinals:



SBR's Gary Pearson shares his semifinals predictions and best bets:

Best semifinals pick to advance: PSG (-128 FanDuel)

"Excluding an uncharacteristic 1-0 defeat to Botafogo in the group stage, PSG haven't missed a beat at the Club World Cup. The final 15 minutes of their quarterfinal against Bayern Munich perfectly typifies Luis Enrique's team.

With the match hanging in the balance, Desire Doue scored the opener, after which the European champions went down to nine men after subsequent red cards.

That didn't faze, nor did it impact how the Parisians acquitted themselves. They withstood Bayern's bruising barrage and countered deep into stoppage time, with Ousmane Dembele providing the final dagger.

Resilience, focus, skill, defensive superiority, and an incredible ability to counter and score when it's required the most. With no discernible weakness, PSG are poised to get past Real Madrid. We covered PSG in more depth in our Club World Cup odds.

While it's as close as I expect the semifinal to transpire, FanDuel offer the best price."


Best Club World Cup semifinals value bet: Fluminense vs. Chelsea draw (+275 DraftKings)

"Chelsea beat two markedly inferior teams (LAFC, Esperance Tunis), fell 3-1 to Flamengo, coughed up a late lead to Benfica before exploding in extra time and relied on a Palmeiras late own goal to punch their semifinals ticket.

Suffice it to say, I'm not convinced.

Like Real Madrid, Chelsea are not the finished product and will need more time to iron out the kinks.

Meanwhile, Fluminense are playing inspired footy, galvanized by their raucous fans and an unparalleled togetherness and resilience. They're also in mid-season form and are impressively stingy at the back.

A 1-1 draw seems the likeliest result, and I'm backing Fluminense to finish the job and pull off the upset in penalties."


Best Club World Cup semifinals long shot bet: Fluminense to advance (+265 FanDuel)

"Fluminense haven't lost in 11 matches. Their previous defeat occurred two months ago, and it feels increasingly likely that they will complete their Cinderella run by facing either PSG or Real Madrid in the final.

The Brazilian side faced Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan en route to the semifinals, keeping a clean sheet in both.

They've grown in confidence and must feel they can do the job against a Chelsea team that is fallible defensively and can be inconsistent offensively, sometimes lacking the cutting edge required in a match of this magnitude against an elite, well-drilled, and organized defense."


Best prop bet for Club World Cup semifinals: Fluminense vs Chelsea Under 2.5 goals (-130 Caesars)

"The match script should be conducive to a low-scoring 1-1 draw. Chelsea will invariably boss the ball, poking and prodding in an attempt to penetrate Fluminense's rearguard.

Much of that constant possession will be ineffective in creating chances, as the Brazilian side is one of the best equipped at absorbing pressure and bending without breaking.

For all their defensive might, Fluminense doesn't score a ton, netting more than two goals once in their previous eight matches, against an out-of-sorts Ulan side."


Tuesday, July 8
Fluminense vs Chelsea Prediction

Wednesday, July 9th
PSG vs Real Madrid Prediction

What are your semifinals predictions? Post them below!

[SBR Andy]

Fluminense vs Chelsea picks from SBR's Gary Pearson for their Club World Cup semifinal match on Tuesday, July 8th:

Fluminense vs. Chelsea prediction: Fluminense to advance (+250 via FanDuel)

"Every so often, a team comes together for a major tournament and defies the odds, with everything falling into place seemingly effortlessly. I recall Greece's performance in the European Championships 21 years ago, representing one of the best underdog stories at a major tournament.

That Greece team needed dogged defending, well-planned and almost perfectly executed game plans, superb goalkeeping, ruthless attacking, an unparalleled feel-good factor and good fortune—Fluminense checks all of those boxes and then some.

I'm most impressed by their defense, which I covered in our Club World Cup best bets.

As far as the game script goes, I expect Fluminense to be hemmed in for the lion's share, absorbing, repelling, bending, but not breaking.

Envisioning a 1-1 tie at the end of 90 minutes, I believe Fluminense will prevail in extra time or penalties, raising the few eyebrows that aren't already lifted."


Best Fluminense vs. Chelsea prop: Under 2.5 goals (-132 via FanDuel)

"Semifinals traditionally have a cagey feel, at least in the opening 20 minutes or so. Neither team will want to make a costly mistake, turning it into a match of cat and mouse.

Chelsea scored more than one goal in just two of five matches, excluding the three they netted in extra time against Benfica. The Blues were only responsible for putting the finishing touches on one goal against Palmeiras, with the other an own goal that sent the Blues through.

The matches in which they scored more than two goals came against inferior sides, LAFC and Esperance Tunis.

Meanwhile, Fluminense are as solid at the back as the Thing's abs in Fantastic Four. And they have the ageless Thiago Silva, who understands Chelsea's play better than most, marshalling Fluminense's rearguard."

[Headsterx]

PSG is taking all the honors this year!

[SBR Andy]

PSG vs Real Madrid picks from SBR's Gary Pearson for their Club World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday, July 9th:

PSG vs. Real Madrid prediction: PSG to advance (-130 via FanDuel)

"We've been down this road before in our Club World Cup best bets, and all motorways lead to Paris.

Of course, Los Blancos are more than capable of winning as marginal underdogs. Like PSG, they are bursting at the seams with elite talent and have game-breakers across the starting 11.

However, unlike PSG, Real Madrid have just embarked on their latest long-haul journey, with Alonso only donning his pilot garb since the start of the tournament.

PSG, meanwhile, are the finished product, more polished than a billionaire's marble floor, more deadly than redback spiders.

I covered their defensive proficiency in our Club World Cup odds. While center back Willian Pacho's absence is concerning, Real Madrid are without first-choice center back Dean Huijsen.

Real Madrid will feel Huijsen's loss more acutely as it will leave Antonio Rudiger exposed, on an island without the necessities to survive.

PSG are too creative, incisive, and free-flowing on the ball for the 32-year-old to keep tabs without his trusted and much more athletic partner in crime."


Best PSG vs. Real Madrid props: Jude Bellingham Over 0.5 shots on target (+100 via bet365)

"The +100 odds for Bellingham to register a shot on target are more appealing than fresh paella and a cold Modelo under the Barcelona sun.

The Englishman has two shots on target in the last two matches and inexplicably missed the target on a sitter from close range against Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals.

He's the type of player who can create shooting opportunities in various ways, bulldozing or slaloming his way into position. He can make Gianluigi Donnarumma work from long range, inside the box, with his head or with either foot.

bet365's even-money odds are markedly better than some of our other best sports betting sites, with FanDuel's -165 providing the least value."