Chelsea are aiming to continue their impressive start to the season when they take on Barrow in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
There’s a David vs Goliath feel to this one with the two sides currently separated by 64 league positions, although Barrow currently sit atop the League Two table having won five of their opening seven league games.
They overcame Derby County on penalties to set up this third round tie, with these two clubs meeting for the first time since 1948.
Chelsea were excellent at West Ham at the weekend to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to four games. Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer combined to devastating effect in a 3-0 rout at the London Stadium.
The Blues, beaten finalists in this competition last time out, are on the hunt for silverware in 2024/25.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash.
Chelsea vs Barrow H2H Record (All Games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Chelsea |
Barrow |
|---|---|
|
West Ham 0-3 Chelsea – 21/09/24 |
Barrow 2-0 Newport County – 21/09/24 |
|
Bournemouth 0-1 Chelsea – 14/09/24 |
Grimsby 1-2 Barrow – 14/09/24 |
|
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace – 01/09/24 |
Barrow 1-1 Swindon – 07/09/24 |
|
Servette 2-1 Chelsea – 29/08/24 |
Barrow 2-3 Bolton – 03/09/24 |
|
Wolves 2-6 Chelsea – 25/08/24 |
Harrogate Town 0-1 Barrow – 31/08/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Sky Sports+ |
|
United States |
Paramount+ |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Enzo Maresca will make use of the monster squad he has at his disposal, with wholesale changes expected to be made to his starting XI on Tuesday.
Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Mkyhaylo Mudryk and Joao Felix are among the names that should come into the team. Other summer arrivals Renato Veiga, goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are also in contention.
Maresca will not be able to call upon the services of Reece James and Malo Gusto at right-back, but Romeo Lavia is closing in on a return from injury. Omari Kellyman misses out with a hamstring issue.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Barrow (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku.
The visitors have a clean bill of health heading into Tuesday’s game as they aim to pull off a major upset.
Manager Stephen Clemence will likely make a change in goal with Wyll Stanway returning to replace Paul Farman. Neo Eccleston is also back in contention having appeared off the bench at the weekend in Barrow’s 2-0 win over Newport County.
Katia Kouyate will do battle with Chris Popov for a starting berth down the right, while Chris Stokes is likely to start at the heart of Barrow’s defence following his summer move from Morecambe.
Barrow predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-3-3): Stanway; Feely, Vassell, Stokes, Jackson; Campbell, Foley, Spence; Kouyate, Garner, Newby.
Barrow may be in great form and top of League Two, but there will be no giant-killing in west London on Tuesday night.
Chelsea’s squad is deep, so Maresca’s wholesale changes shouldn’t compromise the Blues against this level of opposition. There’s still plenty of quality, especially in attacking areas. The hosts should cruise to a routine victory and book their place in the fourth round.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Barrow
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