Middlesbrough take on the visitors Chelsea in the first leg of English League Cup semifinals. The match will be played on Tuesday, January 9th at Riverside Stadium (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough failed to live up to optimistic expectations. The Riversiders had a brief stint in the Premier League in the 2016/2017 season, only to be relegated immediately. It seemed that their prolonged struggle might end under the management of Carrick. A football legend as a player, Carrick essentially began his full coaching career with Middlesbrough last season. While they couldn't secure direct promotion to the Premier League, losing in the playoffs to Coventry, fans optimistically anticipated success in the new Championship cycle. However, the reality is much more modest: the club has slipped into mid-table, although not hopelessly distant from the top six. They also suffered a 0-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the cup, but losing to such an opponent is hardly cause for despair.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
Chelsea, more than ever, lived up to their nickname in the previous season, marking their worst performance in recent years. It underscored the absence of Beohly and his team's deficiencies compared to what Abramovich and his management had built. The attempt to learn from the lessons seems painful and, increasingly clear, likely to be unsuccessful. Returning Pochettino to London and breaking transfer fee records again didn't prevent them from welcoming the New Year near the bottom of the Premier League table. There's simply no chance of recovering the 12 points that separate them from the Champions League quartet. Even securing a place in European competitions through the Premier League seems unrealistic, as there are teams that have performed better. Therefore, the focus on other tournaments is logical. In the country's cup, they staged a rout against Preston, which should boost morale. The closest chance for success, even if not particularly prestigious, lies here. In the League Cup, the Blues progressed, defeating Brighton and Newcastle, although they would have lost to the Magpies if not for a glitch by Trippier. In the 90+ minute, the reactive Mudryk orchestrated a draw, leading to a successful penalty shootout for the capital's giants.
Since 2007, Chelsea have won all nine head-to-head matches consistently, keeping clean sheets every time. Chelsea are unlikely to be so dominant against Carrick's team. We recommend betting on total goals under 3.0 in this match.
Prediction for the match: Under 3.0 scored goals.
