Chelsea host Barrow in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening as Enzo Maresca’s team looks to continue their momentum.
A strong win at the weekend has lifted spirits around Chelsea, who will be targeting this competition as a realistic avenue to silverware in 2024/25.
Maresca is expected to rotate his options for the clash with the League Two leaders, with Mykhailo Mudryk expected to be handed a chance to impress. Elsewhere, Joao Felix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga and Tosin Adarabioyo will look for more minutes after signing for the West Londoners in the summer.
Chelsea vs Barrow – Match Preview and team news
Form
Chelsea: WLDWW
Back-to-back league wins have kickstarted Chelsea’s campaign with the Blues cruising to an impressive 3-0 success at West Ham at the weekend.
Maresca has become the first manager since Pep Guardiola in 2016 to win each of his first three away games in the Premier League, with consecutive clean sheets recorded against Bournemouth and West Ham.
Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson have been in impressive form and the latter extended his record to four goals in five Premier League games with a brace at the London Stadium. The 23-year-old has now scored 20 goals in 50 appearances for Chelsea, a respectable record for a player still adapting to the demands of English football.
New week, same focus. 👊 pic.twitter.com/gOJFBxFztn
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 23, 2024
Malo Gusto could return with Chelsea having operated without a recognised right-back in recent weeks due to the absence of the Frenchman and Reece James.
Chelsea last won the Carabao Cup in 2015 but have suffered three final defeats since, including an extra-time loss to Liverpool at Wembley last season.
Barrow: WLDWW
Barrow have made an impressive start to the campaign and sit top of the League Two table on goal difference after seven games. After an eighth-place finish last season, Barrow are aiming for promotion from the fourth tier this season and beat Newport County 2-0 at the weekend to remain top of the division.
The Bluebirds are under the management of ex-Tottenham and Birmingham midfielder Stephen Clemence this season. They will aim for another Carabao Cup upset, having eliminated Championship Derby County on penalties in the previous round. However, a huge 64 places sit between Chelsea and Barrow in the English football pyramid, the biggest gap in the third round.
Hear from Stephen Clemence ahead of tomorrow’s @Carabao_Cup Third Round clash with Chelsea. 🎤
Full video 📺 👉 https://t.co/9EIqiNplFF#WeAreBarrow pic.twitter.com/iimiEYlwFl
— Barrow AFC (@BarrowAFC) September 23, 2024
Barrow have reached the third round of this competition for just the third time and first since 1967.
Neo Eccleston will hope to make an appearance against former side Chelsea, having come through the club’s academy set-up before leaving for Huddersfield in 2020.
Last Meeting
Chelsea 5-0 Barrow, FA Cup, 10th January 1948
The two teams have only met once previously as Chelsea swept aside the then third-tier Barrow 5-0 in an FA Cup third-round tie.
Ken Armstrong scored twice for the Blues, with further goals from Bobby Campbell, Len Goulden and Jimmy Bowie completing the rout at Stamford Bridge. Barrow had been unbeaten in the Third Division North but were no match for Chelsea’s quality.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Disasi, Badiashile, Tosin, Colwill; Renato Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall; Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku.
Barrow: Stanway; Feely, Vassell, Stokes, Jackson; Campbell, Foley, Spence; Kouyate, Garner, Newby.
Who is the referee?
Oliver Langford.
What TV channel is Chelsea v Barrow on?
The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports+ to a UK audience.
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea vs Barrow is 19:45 BST.
Odds
Chelsea – 1/33
Draw – 16/1
Barrow – 40/1
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