Middlesbrough vs Chelsea Predictions

• Both teams have scored in four of Chelsea’s last five matches.
• Middlesbrough have lost four of their last five home games.
• Three of Middlesbrough’s five EFL Cup games this season have gone over 3.5 goals.

Biggest test yet for Boro

Middlesbrough have had a fairly favourable run to the EFL Cup semi-finals this season, facing just one Championship team, three League One sides and a League Two outfit en route to the last four.

They face a tough challenge in this clash however as they host Chelsea in the first leg of this semi-final. The visitors got the better of Newcastle in dramatic fashion in the last round, providing some respite from what has been another disappointing league season for the Blues.

Boro are facing Premier League opposition for the second time in four days after they were beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Saturday. Michael Carrick’s side have a number of absences through international competition and injury and two playing two top flight teams in such a short space of time could begin to tell.

Chelsea have turned something of a corner recently and could get the better of a Middlesbrough side that have lost four of their last five home games.

Both teams can find a way through

Despite Chelsea’s predicted victory in this clash, Middlesbrough should be able to at least get on the scoresheet. Both teams have scored in four of the visitors’ last five matches and they can be vulnerable at the back.

Take both teams to find the net in a Chelsea win in the first leg of this semi-final.

Three of the hosts’ five EFL Cup games this season have gone over 3.5 goals so correct score backers should keep a 3-1 victory for the away side in mind.