Middlesbrough vs Chelsea preview, prediction, team news, lineups and live stream

Get ready for an exciting football match! Middlesbrough, the underdogs from the Championship, are facing Premier League giants Chelsea in the EFL Cup semi-finals at Riverside Stadium on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024.

Middlesbrough, guided by former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, has shown impressive form in the EFL Cup. They defeated strong teams like Nottingham Forest and Leicester City, displaying a solid defense and a dangerous counter-attack. 

The fans at Riverside Stadium, hungry for success, will be cheering for their team to pull off another surprise. Players like Chuba Akpom, Andraz Sporar, and Isaiah Jones will be aiming to exploit Chelsea’s defensive weaknesses.

On the other side, Chelsea, led by manager Graham Potter, is eager for redemption after missing out on the Premier League title and exiting the Champions League early last season. 

Key players like Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling, and Hakim Ziyech need to find their top form to break through Middlesbrough’s strong defense. Chelsea’s midfield duo, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic, will play a crucial role in controlling the game.

The clash of styles between Carrick’s compact 4-4-2 and Potter’s possession-based 3-4-3 promises an intriguing tactical battle. The match is not just about football; it’s an opportunity for Middlesbrough to make history and for Chelsea to prove their critics wrong. 

The Riverside Stadium will be a stage for these hopes and dreams, hosting a thrilling encounter under the floodlights.

Who will win? Will Middlesbrough cause another upset, or will Chelsea’s quality shine through? The answer will unfold in 90 or maybe 120 minutes of intense football, where every tackle, shot, and roar from the crowd will tell a captivating story. Football fans, get ready for Middlesbrough vs. Chelsea – a clash you won’t want to miss!

Possible Prediction line-ups

Middlesbrough: Glover; Van den Berg, Clarke, Fry, Bangura; Howson, Barlaser; Jones, Crooks, Latte Lath; Coburn

Chelsea: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gallagher, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sterling; Broja

Event details

NAME: Middlesbrough – Chelsea

DATE: 9 Jan 2024

TIME: 20:00 UTC

VENUE: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, England