In a surprising turn of events, Chelsea faced a setback in the Carabao Cup as Middlesbrough secured a first-leg victory, winning 1-0. Despite Chelsea’s possession dominance and flashes of quality, Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney sealed the win for the Championship side. Chelsea struggled to convert chances, with Cole Palmer missing two glaring opportunities in the first half.
The Blues, under Mauricio Pochettino’s management, showcased a talented yet naive side, currently mid-table in the Premier League. The defeat puts pressure on Chelsea to perform in the return leg at Stamford Bridge in two weeks. For Middlesbrough, the victory marked their first major semi-final since the 2006 UEFA Cup, providing a chance to relive historic nights at the Riverside Stadium.
The defeat underscores Chelsea’s trophy drought since the 2021 Club World Cup and raises concerns about their present form. As Middlesbrough fans celebrated, Chelsea faced the challenge of overturning the deficit to reach their first final in the post-Abramovich era.
Here is the highlight video of Middlesbrough vs Chelsea, which ended with a 1-0 victory for Middlesbrough.
Chelsea performance and stats
Chelsea is currently 10th in the Premier League with 28 points.
In the last 20 games, it has won 8 times, drawn 4 times, and lost 8 times. In its last match, Chelsea won 2-3 against Luton Town.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 34 goals and conceding 31.
Chelsea will play the next match in Premier League against Fulham on Saturday 13th of January in Kingston upon Thames. The prediction is Chelsea winning the match.
Middlesbrough performance and stats
Middlesbrough is currently 12th in the Championship with 36 points.
In the last 26 games, it has won 11 times, drawn 3 times, and lost 12 times. In its last match, Middlesbrough lost 1-3 against Coventry City.
It has a negative goal difference after scoring 38 goals and conceding 39.
Middlesbrough will play the next match in Championship against Millwall on Saturday 13th of January in London. The prediction is Middlesbrough winning the match.
Embed from Getty Images