The Club World Cup semi-finals play out across Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in East Rutherford, New Jersey, starting with Fluminense vs Chelsea, followed by a clash between the last two Champions League winners Paris-Saint Germain and Real Madrid a night later.
Flu’s ability to turn any game dour appears to have been overrated by the Betzone odds-compilers, while Les Parisiens are once again difficult to argue with at odds-against.
Fluminense vs Chelsea - Over 2.5 goals
@ 21/20
Paris Saint-Germain to beat Real Madrid
@ 5/4
Bet on the latest Club World Cup odds at Betzone
Defensive absences make overs a live underdog in New Jersey
It’s slightly puzzling to see under 2.5 goals trading at just 3/4 when Fluminense play Chelsea at the MetLife Stadium – home to NFL’s New York Giants and Jets – on Tuesday evening.
That makes the overs an appealing play at 21/20.
Fluminense have rewarded under 2.5 goals backers in three of their five games at the tournament so far, keeping three clean sheets along the way, but their spine will be weakened by the absences of centre-half Juan Pablo Freytes and midfielder Martinelli through suspension.
Flu allowed Al Hilal to get on the scoresheet in the sides’ quarter-final and could also undermine the unders through their own goalscoring exploits, having registered at least twice in three of their last four CWC games.
Chelsea have seen three-plus goals netted in normal time in three of their five matches in the USA. One of the exceptions was a dour opener against limited Los Angeles FC and the other saw them have 22 shots as they ended up beating Benfica 4-1 after extra time.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca will also be without a likely starting centre-half through suspension in the shape of Levi Colwill. The Englishman has made the XI in four of his team’s five games en route to the last four and his absence offers further reason to believe in our recommended bet.
Fluminense vs Chelsea - Over 2.5 goals
@ 21/20
Champions League winners continue to be odds-against value
Paris Saint-Germain were our pre-tournament outright picks on the strength that they’d have what it took to beat Real Madrid in the semi-final we foresaw before a ball was kicked.
Little has changed in the interim. Luis Enrique’s side have rewarded us with wins at odds-against versus Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich en route to this juncture.
Real, meanwhile, have looked like a star-studded work in progress under new boss Xabi Alonso, drawing with Al Hilal and edging past Juventus and Borussia Dortmund by the odd goal
Los Blancos could have the makings of a brilliant team under the former Bayer Leverkusen boss, but PSG already are and that makes them a very backable prospect at 5/4 to prevail without recourse to extra time.
Paris Saint-Germain to beat Real Madrid
@ 5/4
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