Chelsea vs Al Hilal LIVE: Club World Cup result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow live updates as the European champions kick off their campaign at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium
Chelsea reach the final of the Club World Cup, as predicted, but just not in a manner they would have expected.
The European champions were made to work embarrassingly hard against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal for an underwhelming 1-0 victory, secured by Romelu Lukaku. The fact the striker had again scored - his first in a month and only his second in 2022 so far, the other against Chesterfield - was one of the few positives, but the game mostly showed why Chelsea had at one point considered Al Hilal manager Leonardo Jardim as a potential candidate for the Stamford Bridge hotseat.
There remain some concerns for the team, as the absence of Thomas Tuchel again brought an absence of any kind of conviction against very moderate opponents.
Al Hilal almost followed League One’s Plymouth Argyle in forcing Chelsea to extra-time in successive games, and it might have been even worse had it not been for the inspired form of Kepa Arrizabalaga. One of his stops was brilliant, particularly as he was unsighted. Chelsea’s problems were all too visible. They still look so disconnected in attack - and that despite the return of Kai Havertz - but now that bit looser in defence.
Whether that is just down to the simple effect of the manager again not being there, having had a positive Covid test, remains to be seen. There is some optimism he may return here for Saturday’s final, in the same stadium. Follow analysis and reaction to the match below:
Romelu Lukaku ends month-long drought to send sloppy Chelsea into Club World Cup final
Chelsea coaches at Club World Cup ‘constantly in contact’ with Covid-stricken Thomas Tuchel
Reece James heads to Abu Dhabi with Chelsea as they prepare for Club World Cup
‘We have to make the most of it’: Cesar Azpilicueta urges Chelsea to take chance at Club World Cup
Club World Cup: Chelsea team news
Chelsea’s Mason Mount was forced off in their FA Cup win over Plymouth on Saturday but has travelled with the team to Abu Dhabi for the semi-final of the Fifa Cliub World Cup.
Mount will be assessed before the game to see if he can play a part.
Reece James is also in the squad but won’t feature as he continues to recover from injury and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is back with the Blues following his Africa Cup of Nations success with Senegal.
Chelsea’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, is once again absent after a positive Covid-19 test, which saw him miss the FA Cup fourth round match, means he is in self-isolation.
What is the Club World Cup?
The Club World Cup is an international men’s competition organised by Fifa.
The current format involves seven teams competing for the title within a host nation. The winners of the AFC Champions League (Asia), CAF Champions League (Africa), CONCACAF Champions League (North America), Copa Libertadores (South America), OFC Champions League (Oceania) and UEFA Champions League (Europe) compete along with the host nation’s national champions.
Th knockout tournament starts with the host nation’s champions facing the Oceania champions in a play-off with the winner joining the champions of Asia, Africa, and North America in the quarter-finals.
The quarter-final winners then face the South American and European champions who enter the competition at this stage.
In the 2022 competition those teams were Palmeiras (South America) and Chelsea (Europe). Palmeiras played their semi-final yesterday beating Al Ahly (Africa champions) 2-0 and progressing to the final.
Chelsea face Al-Hilal (Asia champions) today for a spot in the final.
Petr Cech explains key to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea success after one year in charge
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech says the key to Thomas Tuchel’s success since joining the Stamford Bridge side has been the speed with which he adapted to the club.
The German coach took charge of Chelsea in January 2021 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain shortly beforehand, and won the Champions League in Porto less than six months later with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Since then, though the team’s title challenge faltered significantly during December, Chelsea have won the Super Cup in Belfast by beating Villarreal and have reached the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool thanks to a two-legged win over Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals.
Petr Cech explains key to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea success after one year in charge
The German coach won the Champions League in his first season at Stamford Bridge
‘We have to make the most of it’: Cesar Azpilicueta urges Chelsea to take chance at Club World Cup
Cesar Azpilicueta has told Chelsea to go and make history by claiming a maiden Club World Cup title in Abu Dhabi.
Chelsea can break new ground by lifting the Club World Cup crown this week, and victory would complete Azpilicueta’s trophy clean sweep at club level.
The Blues skipper has tasted success in every other major club competition, and now wants to complete the set.
Cesar Azpilicueta urges Chelsea to take chance to become club world champions
The Blues open their Club World Cup campaign at the semi-final stage when they take on Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in Abu Dhabi
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