History Warns Chelsea To Be Wary Of FIFA Club World Cup Opposition Al Hilal

There will be a few familiar faces on the opposing side when Chelsea begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign on Wednesday.

There will be a few familiar faces on the opposing side when Chelsea begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign on Wednesday.

Former Premier League players Odion Ighalo, Matheus Pereira and Andre Carrillo all scored for Al Hilal on Sunday as a 6-1 win over Al Jazira saw them book a date with Chelsea in the semi-finals.

Chelsea are clear favorites to progress to the final, but they will be particularly wary of 25-year-old Pereira.

On his last appearance against Chelsea in April 2021, Pereira scored twice to help West Bromwich Albion win 5-2 at Stamford Bridge.

In total, Pereira scored 11 goals in 34 Premier League games for West Brom, before joining Al Hilal in August for a fee in the region of $21m.

Matheus Pereira pictured scoring for West Brom against Chelsea in 2021 / Vince Mignott

Ighalo has also scored at Stamford Bridge before, back in 2015, but his overall record against Chelsea is a fairly modest one goal in six appearances for Watford and Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Carrillo has played against Chelsea four times previously - twice with Sporting Lisbon and twice with Watford - but he did not score or assist in any of those games.

Al Hilal, who play their domestic football in Saudi Arabia, are the reigning Asian Champions League winners.

The winner of Wednesday's match between Al Hilal and Chelsea will face either Brazil's Palmeiras or Egypt's Al Ahly in the final on Saturday.