Espérance go into the final round of the group stage as the fourth most foul-prone side in the Club World Cup, and one player in particular has stood out. Midfielder Khalil Guenichi has committed at least two fouls in each of their opening two matches.

Operating just in front of the back four, Guenichi plays a crucial role in shielding the defence and breaking up opposition attacks, while also helping to link play and connect with Belaïli in midfield.

Across two games, the number 38 has racked up six fouls, making him the sixth most frequent fouler in the tournament, an average of three per 90 minutes. Chelsea have several players who are good at drawing fouls and will likely test Guenichi in physical battles, especially Caicedo (five fouls drawn), Pedro Neto, and Marc Cucurella (three each).

At 25, Pedro Neto has been Chelsea’s most reliable threat on goal in the Club World Cup. The Portuguese forward has scored two of the Blues’ three goals in the tournament — one in the 2-0 win over LAFC and another in the 3-1 defeat to Flamengo.

Chelsea’s number 7 has taken five shots so far, with two of them hitting the target, both ending up in the back of the net. With one shot on target in each of his last two matches, there’s reason to believe he could test the keeper again in Tuesday’s game.

Importantly, Espérance won’t be sitting back for the full 90 minutes — they need a win to stay alive in the tournament. That more open approach could play into Neto’s hands, as both of his goals have come from quick counterattacks.

This is a must-win match for Chelsea. A victory over Espérance would not only help them bounce back from the disappointing loss to Flamengo but also secure a place in the Round of 16 of the Club World Cup. Their performance against the Brazilian side was lackluster and short on creativity, though much of that can be attributed to Flamengo’s quality.

Now, there’s no margin for error. Chelsea will be counting on their overall squad strength and the individual brilliance of key players to get the job done. Pedro Neto, who scored in both of the opening matches, could once again be the difference-maker. In midfield, Moisés Caicedo will play a pivotal role, while Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández will be central to breaking down the opposition in more advanced areas.

Espérance kept their hopes alive with a win over LAFC, and they do pose a threat going forward, particularly through the dangerous runs of Youcef Belaïli. However, their defense may be vulnerable against quick attacking transitions, which is exactly how Flamengo picked them apart in a 2-0 win on matchday one.

With Espérance needing to attack in search of qualification, they’re likely to leave space at the back — something Chelsea’s front line will be eager to exploit. That open-game scenario could work heavily in the London side’s favour.

The Tunisians come into this match on the back of a win over LAFC, where they registered five shots on target. After two games, Espérance are averaging 3.5 shots on target per match — a respectable rate by tournament standards.

Their main attacking threat is Youcef Belaïli, who scored the decisive goal against LAFC and currently leads the team in shots on target with three. If Espérance are to cause problems for Chelsea, much of it will likely come through Belaïli’s creativity and direct play in the final third.