Can Chelsea overturn Middlesbrough’s one-goal lead in the EFL Cup semifinal second leg?

Chelsea vs Middlesbrough - 23/01/2024

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Middlesbrough are one step away from the EFL Cup final, but a single goal currently separates the Teesiders from Premier League club Chelsea, with the second leg left to play.

Can the Teesiders hold on? Let’s check out our score prediction.

On Tuesday night, Middlesbrough will take their slender one-goal lead to Stamford Bridge to play the Blues.

Chelsea’s finishing was their undoing against Middlesbrough, with Cole Palmer being guilty of missing chances he should have put away.

Middlesbrough, on the other hand, made the most of their best scoring chance, to produce an unlikely first-leg semifinal win.

The Boro will go into the second leg unbeaten in their last two matches in the Championship. A 3-1 win over Millwall was followed by a 1-1 draw with Rotherham.

Manager Michael Carrick knows Middlesbrough will have to play a nearly perfect game against Chelsea.

The Blues have the benefit of playing the second leg at home, and the crowd will be behind them from the start.

While Chelsea may have lost to Middlesbrough in the first leg, they have won their last three Premier League matches.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team hasn’t played since January 13. The Blues did not play last weekend, however, due to the Premier League winter break.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough’s 1-1 draw with Rotherham took place on Saturday, just three days before playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Boro do not have a good record against Chelsea. In the teams’ last 32 meetings dating back to 1995, Chelsea posted a record of 21W-5D-6L.

Although head-to-head matches between these clubs have been few and far between in the last decade, Chelsea went unbeaten in their last 15 games at Stamford Bridge against Middlesbrough.

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight matches at Stamford Bridge in all competitions. Middlesbrough may have a one-goal lead, but they will need something special to leave West London as semifinal winners.

Nine players are listed as injured for Pochettino. Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Robert Sanchez, and Nicolas Jackson are all ruled out with injuries. Trevoh Chalobah is a major doubt following a thigh injury.

Making Middlesbrough’s task even more difficult will be the absences of Sam Silvera, Riley McGree, and Seny Dieng.

The trio is away at the Africa Cup of Nations. In addition, Carrick will be without Alex Bangura and Emmanuel Latte Lath.

Can Middlesbrough get the result needed to progress to the final of the EFL Cup? Stamford Bridge could see Boro’s dream of a cup final die based on the trends of their previous visits to West London.

Our algorithm predicts a 1-0 win for Chelsea at home. Obviously, a 1-0 win would send this tie to extra-time, as the two-legged series would be level on goals.

Home team
Away team

Probability %

1X2

Pred

Correct score

Avg. goals

Weather conditions

Coef.

Score

Live
coef.

EFL

Chelsea Middlesbrough 23/01/2024 21:00

442729

1

1 - 0

2.30

12°

1.22

1.22 7.00 11.00 no no no

FT

6 - 1(4 - 0)

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