CF Monterrey v Chelsea, Club World Cup: Where to Watch Live, Preview, Probable Teams

Click here to head to the live blog for updates in the Chelsea v Monterrey tie.

The reigning European champions, Chelsea, take on Mexican club Monterrey in the second semi final of the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. Brazilian side Corinthians have already qualified for the final, with a 1-0 win over Al Ahly of Egypt in the first semi final.

Where to Watch Live

Kick-off is set for 10.30 am BST and live coverage is on BBC HD or head to the IBTimes UK live blog here.

Overview

CF Monterrey won the CONCACAF Champions League for the second consecutive season in April, beating Liga MX rivals Santos Laguna 3-2 over two legs. However, this is the first time Victor Vucetich's men will play in the semi final; last year they were beaten by home side Kashiwa Reysol on penalties. This year, though, Monterrey look stronger and more confident and the 3-1 over South Koreans Ulsan Hyundai is a sign of that self-belief.

Chelsea are unlikely to have an easy ride to a maiden Club World Cup title, particularly with the Blues still searching for a measure of identity under interim manager Rafael Benitez. Nevertheless, the Spaniard (who won the trophy while with Italian club Inter Milan in 2010) must feel this is his best shot at silverware with the Stamford Bridge club and a chance to persuade Roman Abramovich of a full-time appointment.

Vucetich has admitted Monterrey will likely find it difficult to stop the Blues from scoring but also insisted his players would challenge for every ball and try and score as many goals.

The Premier League club, meanwhile, will look to gain as much confidence from a mid-season title as they possibly can. Chelsea are certainly the favourites going into this game and they arrive in Japan on the back of two very good results - a 6-1 defeat of FC Nordsjaelland in a Champions League group stage match and an excellent win at the Stadium of Light in a league fixture.

More importantly, they arrive with £50m signing Fernando Torres having scored twice in each of those games. Could it be the Benitez effect has finally started working on the Spanish international?

The football has improved since Benitez's first game in charge (a dull goalless draw against Premier League champions Manchester City, at the Bridge) but the fans' attitude towards the ex-Liverpool manager hasn't improved too much.

The trip to Japan will also help in that it will allow for the players and the manager to get away from a hostile home situation and try and establish a profitable working relationship.

Team Form

CF Monterrey

• Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W D L D D
• Last Match: Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 1 - 3 Monterrey

Chelsea

• Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W W L D D
• Last Match: Sunderland 1 - 3 Chelsea

Team News

Monterrey are without forward Humberto Suazo, who suffered a muscle tear in his thigh and is out for the tournament. Midfielder Cesar de la Pena is expected to miss this match, with a knee injury.

Striker Cesar Delgado is in fine form, after scoring twice in the quarter final, and Aldo de Nigris' two assists in the same game mean the pair is likely to be a handful for the Blues' back line. Monterrey's defensive line-up will probably be the same as the one fielded in the last game, which means Sergio Perez, Jose Basanta, Hiram Mier and Darvin Chavez will have a midfield shield of two - Severo Meza and Walter Ayovi.

Expect both Meza and Ayovi to drop a little deeper than they did against Ulsan, given the attacking threats Chelsea can offer, and also expect the wing backs, Perez and Chavez, to play deeper than they did against the South Koreans.

This will mean Jesus Corona and Neri Cardozo will have to work a little harder, particularly at dropping back to link the midfield to the attack. Both wide men have plenty of pace so they are likely to be very dangerous on the counter. Up front, de Nigris was a brilliant target man in the quarter final and will continue the same role this game, with the more mobile and inventive Delgado playing off his partner.

Probable Line-Up: Orozco; Perez, Basanta, Mier, Chavez; Ayovi, Meza; Cardozo, Corona, Delgado; di Nigris

Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to be without captain John Terry. The English are also without midfielder Oriel Romeu, who is out for the season after a cruciate ligament injury. Nigerian international John Obi Mikel is serving a three-match suspension but that doesn't apply to a FIFA competition, meaning he will line up alongside veteran Frank Lampard in midfield. England international Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) is also out for the game, meaning the in-form Torres keeps his place.

The fact the Blues don't have too many options on the bench, as well as a desire to win this title, means Benitez will likely field a strong side. Spanish international Cesar Azpilicueta, England's Gary Cahill, Brazil international David Luiz and veteran left back Ashley Cole will all probably start. Lampard and Mikel will probably man the midfield. And Benitez might opt to give German midfielder Marko Marin a rare start, along with Nigerian Victor Moses. This will allow the club to rest two of three creative options in the side - Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata.

Probable Line-up: Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Lampard, Mikel; Moses, Oscar, Marin; Torres