Chelsea host Championship high flyers Leeds in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday and this competition is the last opportunity for the home side to salvage anything from their season
Chelsea
Chelsea lost the EFL Cup Final to Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday, going down 1-0 to an extra time goal against a side who were stricken with injuries and who finished the game with a number of youngsters on the pitch.
That was a huge disappointment for Chelsea in the circumstances and they now switch focus to the FA Cup where the earlier rounds saw them beat Championship side Preston 4-0 at Stamford Bridge and after a 0-0 draw with Villa in another home tie in the fourth round they won the replay 3-1.
Given Chelsea look booked for a mid table finish in the EPL defeat here would be another hammer blow.
Leeds
Leeds were 3-0 winners away at Peterborough in the third round. They then drew 0-0 at home to Plymouth before winning the replay 3-1 and they are in red hot form right now.
Leeds have moved into second spot in the Championship, ahead of Ipswich on goal difference and 6 points shy of Leicester who won at Bournemouth in the fifth round on Tuesday night. They have reeled off 9 straight wins in the league as well as progressing in this competition. Automatic promotion back to the top flight will have to be they priority so their team sheet will make interesting reading.
The Betting
At the time of writing Chelsea are trading at 5/10 to win the game with the draw priced at 36/10 and Leeds can be backed at around 5.25/1
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 0.57/1 and it's 8/11 for both teams to score in regulation time.
The Verdict
These fifth round ties have to be settled on the night and this is an intriguing match up with Chelsea's mindset questionable.
How many changes Leeds make is hard to call but we saw Leicester make 9 at Bournemouth last night and they still came out on top.
I will look for a first and Madueke, who I suspect will start, gets the vote for Chelsea.
Bets: 1st Goalscorer Madueke at 6/1 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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