The first team to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup will be determined in Cardiff on Tuesday night as League One leaders Cardiff City take on Chelsea.
This is the only match in the quarter-finals not featuring all Premier League teams. Chelsea, managed by Enzo Maresca, comes into this game after a 2-0 win against Everton, which ended a four-match winless stretch and eased some pressure on the manager.
Cardiff, led by Brian Barry-Murphy, is performing well at the top of League One. They aim to reach the semi-finals for the first time since their run to the final in 2011-12. After eliminating Burnley and Wrexham, they hope to pull off another upset.
Cardiff City vs Chelsea – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Tuesday, 16 December 2025
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
- Venue: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
- Referee: Tony Harrington
- VAR: No VAR for this match
- Last Meeting: Cardiff City 1-2 Chelsea, 31 March 2019, Premier League
Team News
Cardiff City
Brian Barry-Murphy faces challenges as Chelsea has denied permission for loanee Omari Kellyman to play. Star midfielder Rubin Colwill is out until February with an ankle injury. His brother, Joel Colwill, is likely to take his place. Ronan Kpakio is suspended, and Gabriel Osho and Ollie Tanner are out due to injuries.
Chelsea
Enzo Maresca announced that Cole Palmer will not play as the club manages his fitness after returning from injury. Marc Cucurella is suspended due to previous bookings. However, Moisés Caicedo is back after a domestic suspension. Chelsea also has injuries to Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, and Roméo Lavia, with Marc Guiu cup-tied, suggesting changes in the lineup.
Form
Cardiff City
Cardiff is the lowest-ranked team still in the competition but is performing strongly, sitting four points clear at the top of League One. They have won six of their last seven games across all competitions and scored nine goals in this season’s Carabao Cup—second only to Brighton. Historically, they have a good record against Chelsea in this tournament, winning both previous League Cup encounters.
Chelsea
Chelsea has reached the semi-finals in five of their last nine attempts and has won their last 18 League Cup matches against lower-division teams. Their journey to the quarter-finals has been challenging, with tight victories over Lincoln City and Wolves. Winning this match would mark Chelsea’s 63rd appearance in a major semi-final.
Predicted Lineups
Cardiff City predicted XI: Trott; Ng, Fish, Chambers, Bagan; Wintle, Robertson, Turnbull; Ashford, Salech, J. Colwill
Chelsea predicted XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens; George.
How to watch Cardiff City vs Chelsea?
Viewers in the UK can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, starting at 19:30 GMT.
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