This weekend Chelsea is going to have a shot at creating history and lifting the FIFA Club World Cup for the second time since 2021! While other clubs have done this (Real Madrid has done it five times), it’ll be a big one for Chelsea and will put them on par with Bayern Munich, who have also lifted this cup twice in 2013 and 2020. However, with Luis Enrique’s PSG to fight against, it may turn out a bit tougher than Chelsea expected, given PSG have won every other club trophy this year!

In a recent panel discussion on DAZN, Gareth Bale, former Real Madrid forward, made his predictions on the Club World Cup final known. For some context, Chelsea knocked out Fluminense in the Club World Cup semifinals 2-0, while their opponents PSG knocked out Real Madrid 4-0, so obviously Bale is also a bit biased considering PSG are the ones who held it (twice as) strong against his former team, but here’s what he said.

“Yeah, I think the one thing Chelsea have to do, they have the youth on their team,” Bale said of the team that currently has Marc Guiu, Tyrique George, and Omari Kellyman, all 19, on their roster! Not to mention an average starting age of 24 years and 36 days last season (to be fair PSG aren’t too old themselves with an average age of 25.1). Bale added, though, “But again, PSG have been so good. It’s hard to see past them. I’m sure John [Obi Mikel] will say otherwise, and he’ll come up with his prediction.”

In fact, Jon Obi Mikel, a co-analyst, did, tying Chelsea’s success to the performance of midfielder Moises Caicedo. Bale, however, went on, “But yeah, Chelsea for sure, they have a chance. They have a great team. They have a young team. They have a great manager. They’re playing good football. At the end of the day, a final is one game. Anything can happen on the day. Could be a sending off. Anything can happen. So I’m sure Chelsea will still believe, but yeah, I think PSG are going to be strong favorites.”

It’s true, PSG did just lift the Champion’s League Cup a few months ago and are looking stronger all around, but anything can happen on the day off.

What are the chances Chelsea beats PSG in the Club World Cup final?

Well, PSG did indeed play better than ever last season. During the Club World Cup too, they beat heavyweights like Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid (4-0, 2-0, and 4-0, respectively) en route to the final with an unstoppable attack, demonstrating just how well their forwards and defenders have been performing under Luis Enrique’s leadership this year.

However, PSG does have some weak spots that Chelsea may be able to target this weekend, i.e., who they’re missing. Two of their key players were sent off earlier in the tournament, and their absence from the final has been confirmed.

Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez were both shown red cards during the quarterfinal match against Bayern Munich, and Enrique and his men will have to figure out how to hold down their defensive line without these two stalwarts. If they play their cards right, Chelsea may just be able to use this to their benefit.

Either way, we’ll know in just a few days. The newly revamped Club World Cup will have a new reigning champion, and PSG’s golden streak will either be elongated or stopped short—that is, if Chelsea manages to use their midfielders wisely and find the gaps in time!