• Competition: England - Carabao Cup
• Date: Tuesday, 23rd, January 2024
• Kickoff: 20:00 UK / 21.00 CET
• Venue: Stamford Bridge (London)

Eager to alter the course of events in the second leg of the Carabao Cup, Chelsea will play host to Championship outfit Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Boro, the second-tier underdogs, delivered a shocker by clinching a close 1-0 triumph against the five-time Carabao Cup champions Chelsea in the first leg of the semifinal showdown, leaving their home crowd in awe.

Chelsea vs Middlesbrough Betting Tips: AH1 -1.5

If they aim to contend for the first piece of silverware in two dry years, Chelsea must first overcome the minimal deficit from the first leg to reach the Carabao Cup final, and we are confident they will accomplish that with ease. The 0-1 setback at Riverside Stadium, to be precise, is the only stumble in their recent five competitive clashes for the Premier League side, and Mauricio Pochettino is optimistic that his boys will orchestrate a turnaround in front of their home fans. What makes Blues fans optimistic ahead of the second-leg showdown is their beloved club rediscovering the ability to bring rivals to their knees at home, evident in six consecutive triumphs where they've breached the opponent's net 14 times. 

Heading into the crucial second leg at Stamford Bridge, Middlesbrough arrives with a rather positive vibe, securing four points from two league encounters since stunning the heavyweight of the EPL in the first semifinal clash earlier this month. However, Boro's playoff aspirations took a hit over the weekend as they had to work hard to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw against the lowest-ranked second-tier side Rotherham, failing to pump up their muscles ahead of their trip to West London. Furthermore, Michael Carrick's men don't have fond memories of their visits to Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea has defeated them in each of their last six head-to-head matches with an imposing goal difference of 12-0, and we hope that the Blues, hungry for revenge, will showcase their true strength and re-enter the battle for the Carabao Cup trophy after two years. Therefore, we advocate a clear victory for the Blues with a margin of at least two goals.