Cardiff City – Chelsea: a tricky quarter-final in Wales 
Cardiff host Chelsea on Tuesday for an EFL Cup quarter-final that looks every bit as exciting as it does one-sided on paper. Dominant League One leaders, the Bluebirds are dreaming of an upset against a Premier League giant desperate for stability and confidence.
Cardiff City: good momentum but a proper test 
Relegated last season after a rough campaign, Cardiff didn’t take long to put things right. Brian Barry-Murphy’s men currently top League One and are brimming with confidence. Their breathless 4-3 win over Doncaster last weekend confirmed the squad’s fine form.
Undefeated in their last five league outings, the Bluebirds impress with attacking intensity and a knack for making a difference at home. Against Chelsea the level jumps up, but Cardiff will lean on the Cardiff City Stadium crowd to make life difficult for their illustrious opponents.
Cardiff City: squad news
Still on the treatment table, Eli King, Ollie Tanner and Jak Alnwick will miss the tie. Chris Willock, recently back in the squad, could slot straight into the starting XI.
Top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions this season, Yousef Salech will lead the Welsh attack. Between the sticks, Nathan Trott is expected to keep his place after arriving from Copenhagen.
Chelsea: favourites on paper, but fragile 
Chelsea travel with a bit of relief after a 2-0 win over Everton. A necessary result for Enzo Maresca’s men, who’ve been patchy since the international break.
Beaten recently by Leeds and shaky away from home, the Blues have won just one of their last five matches on the road. Despite being heavy favourites, the Londoners know this quarter-final could easily turn into a trap against a fired-up opponent.
Chelsea: squad news
Still unavailable, Levi Colwill is continuing his recovery after a knee injury. Enzo Maresca looks set to use this match to rotate his squad.
Cole Palmer, scorer against Everton, won’t be involved. Players like Marc Guiu, Benoît Badiashile, Filip Jorgensen and Jamie Gittens should start and grab their chance.
What to take away
- Chelsea picked up an important win but remain shaky away from home.
- Cardiff have won their last five League One games.
- Cardiff’s last six home matches have gone over 2.5 goals.
- Chelsea have won their last five meetings with Cardiff.
Football Prediction Cardiff City vs Chelsea
Chelsea win by 2 goals
Chelsea look clearly above this 3ème division side and should be able to take a comfortable win despite a rotated squad.
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