Fluminense vs Chelsea: Overview

Chelsea FC secured their place in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory over Fluminense FC at a vibrant MetLife Stadium. Under the floodlights in New Jersey, over 70,000 fans witnessed a clinical display from the London club as they dispatched the Brazilian champions.

The hero of the evening was João Pedro, Chelsea's recent £60 million ($81.5 million) acquisition from Brighton, who marked his first start for the Blues with a memorable brace against the club where his professional journey began. The poetic narrative of a player returning to haunt his former employers added an extra layer of drama to this intercontinental clash.

Pedro's first goal in the 18th minute was a moment of pure quality – a curling effort that left Fluminense's veteran goalkeeper Fábio clutching at thin air. His second, coming in the 56th minute, was equally impressive as his powerful strike crashed against the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line.

The Brazilian side had their moments, with Hércules seeing an effort dramatically cleared off the line by Marc Cucurella in the 26th minute. Fluminense's frustration was compounded when a penalty decision in their favor was overturned following VAR intervention ten minutes later.

Enzo Maresca's tactical approach proved superior to Renato Gaúcho's setup, with Chelsea's midfield trio of Fernández, Caicedo, and Palmer controlling the tempo throughout. The victory means Chelsea will compete for the prestigious Club World Cup trophy against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain on July 13, having already dispatched Benfica, Palmeiras, and now Fluminense en route to the final.

This result continues the dominance of European clubs in the competition, with teams from the continent poised to secure their 12th consecutive Club World Cup title. For Chelsea, the financial implications are significant, with a place in the final guaranteeing between $88-104 million – a welcome boost following their UEFA Conference League triumph earlier in 2025.

"The connection between João and his former club made this a special night for him, but I'm pleased with how professionally he approached the occasion. We knew Fluminense would bring intensity and South American flair, but our tactical discipline was excellent throughout," said Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

"It's a bittersweet moment for me. I'm happy to score my first goal, but also I know this tournament is very important for them. I can't just say sorry, but I have to be professional. My years at Fluminense shaped me as a player, but today I needed to do my job for Chelsea," reflected João Pedro after his match-winning performance.

"We created chances but lacked the final touch. The disallowed penalty was a turning point – these are the fine margins at this level of competition. I'm proud of my players' effort against one of Europe's strongest teams," commented Fluminense coach Renato Gaúcho.

"Chelsea's midfield control was exceptional today. The combination of Caicedo's defensive work, Fernández's distribution, and Palmer's creativity gave them a platform that Fluminense struggled to disrupt. João Pedro will take the headlines, but that midfield trio was the foundation of their victory," analyzed former Brazil international and tournament ambassador Kaká.

"We fought with everything we had, but sometimes football is cruel. The goal-line clearance and the overturned penalty – on another day, those moments go our way and it's a different match," lamented Fluminense captain Thiago Silva, facing his former club.

Possession: Chelsea FC 57% - 43% Fluminense FC

Shots (On Target): Chelsea FC 14 (7) - 9 (3) Fluminense FC

Corners: Chelsea FC 8 - 5 Fluminense FC

Fouls: Chelsea FC 11 - 14 Fluminense FC

Yellow Cards: Chelsea FC 2 (Caicedo 32', Chalobah 78') - 3 (Thiago Santos 41', Nonato 67', Guga 85') Fluminense FC

Key Player Statistics:

João Pedro (Chelsea): 2 goals, 4 shots (3 on target), 86% pass completion, 7 duels won

Cole Palmer (Chelsea): 2 assists, 5 key passes, 91% pass completion, 3 successful dribbles

Germán Cano (Fluminense): 3 shots (1 on target), 75% pass completion, 9 duels won

Jhon Arias (Fluminense): 4 key passes, 2 shots, 83% pass completion, 4 successful dribbles

Team Comparison:

Passing Accuracy: Chelsea FC 89% - 78% Fluminense FC

Successful Dribbles: Chelsea FC 12 - 9 Fluminense FC

Defensive Actions (tackles, interceptions, clearances): Chelsea FC 24 - 31 Fluminense FC

Distance Covered (km): Chelsea FC 108.3 - 112.7 Fluminense FC

Chelsea's statistical dominance reflected their control of the semifinal, with superior numbers in most offensive metrics. The Brazilian side's higher defensive actions and distance covered indicated their reactive approach as they attempted to contain Chelsea's attacking threats in this FIFA Club World Cup encounter.

18' GOAL (0-1) – João Pedro opened the scoring for Chelsea FC with a beautiful curling strike from the edge of the box after Cole Palmer's clever reverse pass found him in space. A finish of the highest quality against his former club.

26' CHANCE – Fluminense FC nearly equalized when Hércules' close-range effort was dramatically cleared off the line by Marc Cucurella following a corner kick. A crucial defensive intervention by the Spanish defender.

36' VAR DECISION – Controversy as referee initially awarded Fluminense a penalty after Jhon Arias went down under Chalobah's challenge, but the decision was overturned following VAR review. Replays showed minimal contact.

45+2' HALF-TIME – Chelsea took a slender one-goal advantage into the break, having controlled much of the possession but with Fluminense showing threatening moments on the counter-attack.

56' GOAL (0-2) – João Pedro doubled Chelsea's lead with a powerful strike that hit the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line. Cole Palmer again the provider with a precise through ball that split the Brazilian defense.

64' TACTICAL CHANGE – Fluminense coach Renato Gaúcho responded by switching from a 4-3-3 to a more attacking 4-2-3-1 formation, introducing an additional offensive player in search of a way back into the match.

72' SAVE – Robert Sánchez produced a spectacular fingertip save to deny Germán Cano's header from close range, preserving Chelsea's two-goal cushion at a crucial moment.

90+4' FULL-TIME – The referee brought proceedings to a close with Chelsea securing a 2-0 victory and advancing to the FIFA Club World Cup final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.

Prior to this FIFA Club World Cup semifinal, Chelsea FC and Fluminense FC had met only once in official competition – in the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi, where the London club emerged victorious with a 2-1 extra-time win. This latest encounter further tilts the historical balance in Chelsea's favor.

Historical Record:

• Chelsea wins: 2
• Fluminense wins: 0
• Draws: 0
• Goals: Chelsea 4-1 Fluminense

Key Individual Battles:

Thiago Silva vs. João Pedro: The veteran Brazilian defender, formerly of Chelsea, faced the challenging task of containing his compatriot. Despite Silva's experience, Pedro's movement and clinical finishing proved decisive. The younger Brazilian won this particular duel with his two-goal performance.

Cole Palmer vs. Thiago Santos: Palmer's creative influence was evident throughout, with the English midfielder providing both assists and creating several other opportunities. Santos struggled to limit Palmer's impact in the spaces between Fluminense's defensive and midfield lines.

Germán Cano vs. Tosin Adarabioyo: Fluminense's experienced striker found himself well-marshaled by Chelsea's towering defender. Adarabioyo's aerial dominance and positional awareness restricted Cano to limited opportunities, with his best chance coming from a header that required a spectacular save.

Tactical Analysis:

Both encounters between these teams have followed similar patterns – Chelsea establishing territorial dominance through possession, while Fluminense looking to capitalize on transitional moments. The European side's superior technical quality in midfield areas has proven decisive in both meetings.

The connection between these clubs extends beyond the pitch, with several players having represented both sides. Most notably, Thiago Silva spent eight successful years at Chelsea before returning to Fluminense, while match-winner João Pedro began his career at the Brazilian club before moving to Europe.

As the FIFA Club World Cup operates as a knockout tournament rather than a league competition, traditional standings don't apply. However, the tournament context and implications for both teams can be analyzed:

Tournament Progress:

1. Chelsea FC - Advanced to the final (to face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain)
2. Fluminense FC - Will compete in the third-place playoff
3. Real Madrid/PSG - Finalist (opponent to be determined)
4. Loser of second semifinal - Will face Fluminense in third-place playoff

Tournament Achievements:

Chelsea FC:

• Path to final: Victories over Benfica, Palmeiras, and now Fluminense
• Guaranteed prize money: $88-104 million
• Seeking first Club World Cup title since 2022
• Looking to continue European dominance in the competition (potentially 12th consecutive European winner)

Fluminense FC:

• First Brazilian club to reach the semifinals since Palmeiras in 2022
• Qualified as Copa Libertadores champions
• Still can secure third place and significant financial reward
• Aiming to restore South American pride in the competition

Historical Context:

European clubs have maintained a firm grip on the FIFA Club World Cup in recent years, with South American teams increasingly struggling to bridge the competitive and financial gap. Chelsea's advancement to the final continues this trend, though Fluminense's spirited performance demonstrated that the gap isn't insurmountable.