{"id":1388600,"date":"2025-06-17T10:19:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T09:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1388600"},"modified":"2025-06-19T10:02:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T09:02:17","slug":"chelsea-vs-lafc-tactical-analysis-blues-far-from-perfect-club-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/chelsea-vs-lafc-tactical-analysis-blues-far-from-perfect-club-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea vs LAFC Tactical Analysis: Blues far from perfect in Club World Cup victory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

View Features<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC 2-0 in their Club World Cup opener, getting off to a good start in the competition.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enzo Maresca used all of Chelsea’s traits to their advantages while beating LAFC in Group D’s opening game of the 2025 Club World Cup. The flow of the match was similar to most of what the Blues fans have seen under the Italian, and it was exactly what they needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, it wasn’t the perfect showing and there are obviously lots of other levels they can reach when really engaged. So let’s start with why it was the ideal game even though they didn’t particularly well, especially compared to what they’ve already shown in recent months.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Ball retention and resting with possession<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As expected, Chelsea dominated possession (65% to 35%) and all actions across the game, but the difference looked even bigger in the first half. LAFC still managed to string together a few nice passes and advance a little bit, but could never really involve their front three in the build-up, let alone get touches inside the box (just one before half-time).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Maresca’s offensive 3-2-5 shape allowed the Blues to rotate the ball, go forward and then backwards with a lot of ease. He also trusted LAFC’s general inability to dictate tempo and it paid off when they eventually made a mistake and Chelsea turned into a fast break, finished brilliantly by Pedro Neto’s stunning goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Pedro Neto's game by numbers vs. LAFC:

80 touches
47\/51 passes completed
8 duels won
5 successful take-ons
4 chances created
4 touches in opp. box
3 accurate crosses
2 shots
2 fouls won
1 shot on target
1 goal

The match winner. ?#FIFACWC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CTD1R2tgN0<\/a><\/p>— Squawka (@Squawka) June 16, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>