Date, Kick-off time, Venue
- Date: 10th January 2024
- Kick-off time: 01:30 AM IST
- Venue: Riverside Stadium
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea Match Preview
Middlesbrough and Chelsea are set to go up against each other in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup. Chelsea coming to this match with a 4-0 win against Preston in the FA Cup. Although Chelsea is in the 10th position in the English Premier League table with 8 wins and 28 points, Middlesbrough is in the 12th position in the English Championship with 11 wins and 36 points.
Both teams haven’t been performing well in their respective leagues lately. Thus, both teams will look forward to solidifying their position in the EFL Cup and ending their campaign with at least a trophy. Chelsea is coming off a win against Luton Town in matchday 20 of the English Premier League, whereas Middlesbrough is coming off a 1-3 defeat to Coventry.
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Middlesbrough vs Chelsea Team News:
Chelsea: Chelsea has several injuries in their squad currently. Their solid center-backs Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah are out with a cruciate ligament tear and thigh problems, respectively. The club captain and right-back are out with a hamstring injury. Chelsea’s left-back Marc Cucurella is also out with an ankle injury.
They will also be without their first-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez due to muscular problems. Apart from the injuries, Nicolas Jackson will be unavailable for the match as he is called up to the national team. Thus, it will be interesting to see the combination Pochettino chooses for the game. He is likely to rotate the squad for the match, considering they have some important Premier League games ahead in the coming weeks.
Middlesbrough: The squad of Middlesbrough is completely fit to take on Chelsea in the semi-finals. Sam Greenwood, the attacking midfielder, is at risk of suspension as he has already received four yellow cards this season. Michael Carrick is unlikely to rotate the squad for the match against a strong Chelsea. Carrick will look to play their strongest lineup for the match.
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea Betting tips for the match:
- Chelsea to win the match.
- Chelsea to score more than two goals.
- Cole Palmer to be on the scoresheet.
Odds:
- Chelsea win: 2.20
- Middlesbrough win: 1.00
- Draw: 1.88
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea Possible line-ups for the match:
Chelsea:
- Goalkeeper: D. Petrovic
- Defenders: L. Colwill, T. Silva, A. Disasi, M. Gusto
- Midfielders: M. Caicedo, C. Gallagher, C. Palmer, N. Madueke, E. Fernandez
- Forwards: C. Nkunku
Middlesbrough:
- Goalkeeper: T. Glover
- Defenders: R. van den Berg, D. Fry, M. Clarke, L. Engel
- Midfielders: J. Howson, D. Barlaser, I. Jones, M. Rogers, S. Greenwood
- Forwards: J. Coburn
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea Players to watch out for
Chelsea: The player to watch out for in Chelsea is Cole Palmer. The former Manchester City man has been on fire since he arrived at Stamford Bridge. Palmer has been the driving force behind the attacking front of Chelsea. The No.20 of Chelsea has so far scored eight goals and provided four assists for his team. Apart from Palmer, Thiago Silva can always be considered a threat to the opposition team. Silva provides defensive solidity and contributes in the corners to help the team superbly.
Middlesbrough: The player to watch out for in Middlesbrough is the attacking midfielder Sam Greenwood. Greenwood has been creating havoc for Carrick’s side down that right-hand side. He has registered around five goals and two assists in the Championship this season. Apart from Greenwood, Matt Crooks can be a threat to Pochettino’s side. The midfielder has scored three goals and provided six assists so far in this season of the Championship.
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Middlesbrough vs Chelsea Head-to-Head and Predictions:
The teams have faced each other 30 times across all competitions. Chelsea dominated the rivalry between the two with 20 wins to their name. Middlesbrough has just five wins. Five matches between the two teams have ended in a draw. Moreover, Chelsea has registered a staggering 46 goals in their 30 games.
Chelsea is predicted to win the game against Middlesbrough by a scoreline of 2-0. It will be very tough for Middlesbrough to stop a star-studded lineup like Chelsea’s.
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea Where to watch:
- India: FanCode app/Website
- England: Skysports Football
- Germany: DAZN CA