As part of their pre-season preparations, Chelsea are set to take on Club America in an exciting friendly match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday, July 31.
Both teams are looking to fine-tune their squads and strategies ahead of their respective domestic campaigns, with the Mexican side already 4 games into their league campaign.
Chelsea Aiming for Improvement | Blues to Win: 1.75
Chelsea's pre-season journey has been a mixed bag so far. They began with a 2-2 draw against League One side Wrexham, in a match that highlighted both their potential and areas needing improvement.
Their subsequent 4-1 defeat to Celtic exposed defensive frailties, despite Christopher Nkunku’s late penalty giving them a consolation goal. New manager Enzo Maresca, who took over on July 8, will be keen to address these issues and build cohesion within the team before their league starts and this game would be the perfect opportunity.
Club America Seeking Consistency | Eagles to Win: 4.10
Club America have already been engaged in competitive matches with the Liga MX season underway. Their form has been inconsistent, with two wins and two losses from their first four matches.
They recently secured a 2-1 victory over Juarez, demonstrating their potential but also highlighting areas for improvement, especially in away matches where they have struggled and as winners of the league last season, if they are to defend the title, they would have to start showing it with their performances and what way to do that than against English Premier League giants Chelsea.
Key Players & Team News:
For Chelsea, players like Tosin Adarabioyo, Nkunku, Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Raheem Sterling are expected to feature prominently as Maresca experiments with his line-up. Carney Chukwuemeka, who has played extensively in the previous matches, might get some rest.
Club America, on the other hand, will rely on their key players from the Juarez match, with Rodrigo Aguirre pushing for a start after scoring as a substitute. They will face Chelsea with a mostly strong line-up, although Jardine may rotate his squad to manage player fitness, especially with a match against Aston Villa just three days later.
Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw: 3.90
Chelsea have had the upper hand in games against CF America with three (3) consecutive wins (2-1, 2-0, 2-1). | Specials Market: Home/Draw & Over 2.5= 1.92.
America has won three (3) of their last five (5) games, in all competitions demonstrating their capabilities to hurt the opposition. | Specials Market: Draw/Away & Yes= 2.75
There have been over 2.5 goals in all of Chelsea’s last five (5) games while for Club America there have been over 2.5 goals in four (4) of their previous five (5) games. | Specials Market: Over 2.5 & Yes = 1.79
You can check out the Chelsea vs CF America game on MSport here.
In preparation for their upcoming campaigns, Portuguese giants Benfica and Dutch heavyweights Feyenoord will square off in an engaging friendly match on Sunday, July 28.
Both teams are fine-tuning their squads and strategies, and this encounter promises to offer valuable insights into their readiness for the new season.
Benfica's Pre-Season Build-Up:
Benfica have had a busy pre-season, playing four matches so far. They started with a resounding 5-0 victory over Farense on July 12.
This was followed by a series of matches where they drew against Celta Vigo and Brentford, and secured a 3-1 win over Almeria on July 21. With two more friendlies scheduled, including a game against Fulham, Benfica are gearing up for their domestic season opener against Famalicao on August 11.
Feyenoord's New Era:
Feyenoord have also had a successful pre-season, winning both of their matches so far. They started with a dominant 4-0 victory over Dordrecht on July 6, followed by a 3-1 win against Genk.
Under new manager Brian Priske, who has taken over from Arne Slot, Feyenoord are looking to build on their second-place finish in the Eredivisie last season, where they finished seven points behind PSV Eindhoven.
Key Players & Team News:
Benfica will rely on the attacking prowess of their new signing, Vangelis Pavlidis, and the leadership of experienced players like Rafa Silva and Alex Grimaldo.
Feyenoord, on the other hand, will look to their fresh faces, including Ondrej Lingr, to provide a spark, while veteran players like Orkun Kökçü will be key in maintaining stability and experience on the field.
Match Stats:
Benfica beat Feyenoord 4-1 in the first of their two friendly games with the Portuguese club as the home team just like this one.
Feyenoord boast incredible form having won all their last five (5) games in all competitions including all their three (3) pre-season friendlies.
There have been over 2.5 goals in three (3) of Benfica’s last five (5) games in all competitions and four (4) of Feyenoord’s last five (5) games.
You can check out the Benfica vs Feyenoord Pre-season friendly on MSport here: