TUESDAY CARABAO CUP SEMI-FINAL: The Striker previews the Carabao Cup semi-final between MIDDLESBROUGH v CHELSEA with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
MIDDLESBROUGH V CHELSEA
8pm The Cup action continues in the UK this week as we begin the Carabao Cup Semi-Finals on BETDAQ Betting Exchange with Middlesbrough hosting Chelsea on Tuesday. As we know, the Semi-Final stage of the Carabao Cup is over two legs so make sure you consider that when betting in the 90 minutes match odds market. Chelsea wouldn’t be too unhappy with a draw here for example with the second leg at home. Both sides were involved in FA Cup action at the weekend with Middlesbrough losing at home to Aston Villa and Chelsea running out very easy 4-0 winners over Preston North End.
That was a much needed confidence boosting win for Chelsea who have dropped a lot of points in the Premier League this season. Mauricio Pochettino isn’t under half the pressure than Erik ten Hag is getting from the media, but Chelsea sit down in tenth with their chances of breaking back into the Top Four basically zero. It’s going to be a long way back for the club you feel – in fairness they have to stick with Pochettino and give him time. You could say the same about Manchester United too, but that’s not the narrative we get told at the moment!
Middlesbrough are having a hard time this season too. They currently sit down in 12th in the Championship. They are only four points off Sunderland in sixth but there’s so many teams between them it’s hard to see Middlesbrough making the playoffs again. This season has definitely been viewed as a backwards step, but again – they must stick with their manager! Their average xG created of 1.58 is the fifth best in the Championship, a good level to make the playoffs, but the major issue this season has been at the back. They have been conceding far too many sloppy goals.
For example, their average xG conceded is 1.29 whereas their actual goals conceded average is 1.5. They haven’t been taking all their chances either, and that puts them in mid-table. Chelsea have been having similar problems at the back; their average xG conceded is 1.37 and their actual goals conceded is over that at 1.55. The major positive for Chelsea here is their home and away form is basically in line with each other – I wouldn’t say being away from home is a negative.
Chelsea come into the first leg as the odds on favourites. The away win is trading 1.6 with Middlesbrough 5.9 and the draw is 4.5 at the time of writing. Middlesbrough were able to hold out here against Aston Villa until the 87th minute at the weekend. Villa played a reasonably strong side, and you’d expect a strong side from Chelsea here. They aren’t in Europe and with their chances of getting anything from the Premier League this season gone, this and the FA Cup will be their major focus now.
Middlesbrough might have only conceded once against Villa, but they didn’t really create anything. They were especially poor going forward in the first half. As I said above, Chelsea won’t be unhappy with a draw here given it’s a two legged affair and they are away from home, however I still feel the 1.6 is worth backing. Chelsea have thrown away a lot of points in the Premier League this season but they can outclass this Middlesbrough side. I’m not going to go crazy with the stakes, but Chelsea get the job done for me.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Chelsea to beat Middlesbrough at 1.6 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/MidChe
