Middlesbrough vs Chelsea live preview EFL Cup

Middlesbrough：

Middlesbrough, the home team, enters this game on the back of a challenging spell. Their recent outing against another Premier League side, Aston Villa, in the FA Cup third round, resulted in a 1-0 defeat, marking their second consecutive loss at home. As they prepare for their third consecutive home fixture, Middlesbrough is eager for a more positive outcome. However, their recent track record, with three losses in four matches, poses a less-than-ideal preparation for this game, particularly considering they failed to score in two of these defeats.

Chelsea：

Chelsea arrives at the semi-finals in a formidable run of form and has consistently dominated previous encounters with Middlesbrough. Over the course of their last nine matches against Middlesbrough, Chelsea has secured victories without conceding a single goal. The Blues particularly cherish their recent visit to the Riverside Stadium, where they emerged triumphant with a 2-0 win in the 2022 FA Cup.

Given their inconsistent performance in the Premier League, the League Cup provides Chelsea with a promising avenue to secure a route back to European competition. It is expected that Chelsea will approach this game with the utmost seriousness, aiming for a sixth League Cup title. The last time they clinched the title was in 2015, defeating Tottenham Hotspur under the management of their current coach, Mauricio Pochettino. Despite subsequent final losses, both decided by post-match penalties, Chelsea maintains an impeccable record in recent cup matches against Middlesbrough, securing 2-0 victories in their last two encounters.

Analysis：

A dominant side in this fixture, Chelsea will once again be the favorites here. They’ve beaten Middlesbrough in nine straight games and kept clean sheets in all. The Blues have this as one of their realest chances of making it back to Europe. We thus expect a big effort from them here. Middlesbrough are coming from a tough run of matches, losing most and this won’t be any easier. Our prediction for Middlesbrough v Chelsea is for Chelsea to win to nil.

Middlesbrough vs Chelsea stream and TV listing

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