Delap vs Otamendi Showdown Set to Determine Benfica-Chelsea Clash

Chelsea's loss to Flamengo might turn out to be a fortunate setback as it secured the Blues a clash with Benfica instead of Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup's round of 16.

Though this draw appears advantageous for the Blues, Chelsea must avoid taking lightly a Benfica squad that defeated the Germans 1-0 in their concluding group match. Bruno Lage's team is packed with skill, yet Chelsea possess their own weapons that could determine this encounter.

Here are four crucial matchups to monitor.

Cole Palmer vs. Álvaro Carreras

Cole Palmer has been positioned more on the right side of Chelsea's attacking formation this summer. A comparable position against Benfica will pit him against the highly sought-after Álvaro Carreras.

Carreras draws attention as Real Madrid persist in negotiations to bring back their former youth prospect. This elevated status is justified following an outstanding campaign that has seen the 22-year-old cement his role as an influential figure at both defensive and offensive ends.

Palmer must not neglect his defensive responsibilities when facing Carreras, though this caution applies equally in reverse. Almost all of Chelsea's positive play flows through Palmer, who will attempt to pull the left-back out of position while seeking space to display his skills.

Liam Delap vs. Nicolás Otamendi

Nicolas Jackson's lengthy ban leaves little uncertainty about who will lead Chelsea's attack. Summer acquisition Liam Delap has already established his reputation this summer with a goal and an assist to his name.

The physical forward enjoys using his strength, but in Nicolás Otamendi, he'll encounter a defender who relishes the same approach. The 37-year-old continues to improve with age, donning the captain's band while setting the standard at the core of Benfica's backline.

This confrontation won't be limited to Benfica's penalty area. Otamendi poses a genuine threat when it comes to finding the net, so Delap's strength may be required when defending set pieces or free-kicks.

Levi Colwill vs. Vangelis Pavlidis

Delap is the forward capturing attention ahead of this match, but Benfica possess a genuinely dangerous attacker in Greek international Vangelis Pavlidis, a player previously connected with Chelsea transfers.

During his debut campaign with Benfica, the 26-year-old recorded 30 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions, demonstrating his capabilities in both scoring and creating opportunities. He represents the complete attacking threat that virtually every elite European club seeks to acquire, and Benfica may hope he continues flying under the radar while avoiding the attention of scouts who will surely be impressed by his performances.

Chelsea's Levi Colwill bears the responsibility of neutralizing Pavlidis defensively and faces an extremely challenging battle against the Greek striker. The Blues defender must maintain his composure and prevent Pavlidis from controlling the rhythm of their duel.

Moisés Caicedo vs. Orkun Kökçü

Chelsea and Benfica represent two teams that take pride in their midfield excellence. One side features Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández and Roméo Lavia. The opposition boasts Orkun Kökçü, Florentino, Fredrik Aursnes, Leandro Barreiro and a rejuvenated Renato Sanches.

This match could be determined in the middle of the field, where Caicedo and Kökçü will certainly play pivotal roles. The former serves as a defensive anchor who must contain the latter following Kökçü's achievement of double-digit goals and assists in the previous season.

Both Caicedo and Kökçü can excel at either end of the field, with this confrontation likely spanning the entire pitch. Whichever player breaks free from the other will probably have the opportunity to influence the game's outcome.