Chelsea vs Leeds: Who will book a place in the FA Cup final?
In the FA Cup semi-final, London side Chelsea will face Leeds on Sunday, April 26. The match will kick off at 16:00 CET, and I have a betting pick for this clash.
Chelsea vs Leeds: Match facts and head-to-head
- Chelsea have lost their last three matches and seven of their previous eight.
- Leeds are unbeaten in seven consecutive matches.
- Leeds have scored at least one goal in each of their last four matches.
- Chelsea have failed to score in their last three matches.
- A quarter of Chelsea’s matches this season have been wins with a clean sheet, while Leeds have managed that in 11%.
- In 35% of their matches this season, Chelsea have scored in both halves.
- In the last meeting between the sides, Chelsea and Leeds played out a 2-2 draw.
- Leeds have reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 40 years.
Chelsea vs Leeds: Match preview
On the eve of this semi-final, Chelsea made a managerial change. They dismissed Liam Rosenior after another defeat, with Calum McFarlane set to take charge until the end of the season. Under Rosenior, Chelsea matched an unwanted record that had stood for 114 years, so the decision looks understandable. Chelsea have slipped to eighth place in the table, currently sitting on 48 points and one point behind seventh. In the FA Cup, they thrashed Charlton 5-1, Hull City 4-0, Wrexham 4-2 and Port Vale 7-0.
Leeds, meanwhile, are in excellent form and are unbeaten in seven straight matches. Thanks to that run, they have a very strong chance of preserving their Premier League status for next season. They currently have 40 points after 34 rounds and hold a nine-point cushion above the relegation zone. As for the FA Cup, Leeds beat West Ham, defeated Norwich 3-0, Birmingham 2-1 and Derby 3-1. This is their first FA Cup semi-final in 40 years, and the club has every chance of reaching the final for the first time since 1973. They have not lifted the trophy since 1972.
Probable line-ups
- Chelsea: Sanchez; Acheampong, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Palmer, Pedro, Neto; Delap
- Leeds: Perri; Struijk, Bijol, Rodon; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin
Prediction
Both Chelsea and Leeds will be fully determined to reach the final and should throw everything into this contest. I expect an exciting, dramatic and high-scoring encounter. My suggested pick is both teams to score.
