Cardiff vs Chelsea Match Prediction, Lineups & Score Forecast , EFL Cup Quarter Finals

Cardiff vs Chelsea sets up a fascinating Quarter Final clash under cold winter conditions in Wales, with Cardiff City Stadium expected to generate a hostile and passionate atmosphere. With temperatures around 4°C, a full-capacity crowd, and knockout pressure, this fixture has all the ingredients for an intense and physical battle.

Cardiff City come into this match with strong momentum, having won four of their last five games, showing resilience and attacking intent despite competing against varied opposition. Chelsea, meanwhile, arrive with mixed results, balancing domestic duties and European commitments, and will need to show maturity and control away from home.

With both sides dealing with key absences, tactical discipline and squad depth could be decisive in determining who progresses to the semi-finals.

Match Overview – Cardiff vs Chelsea

Category	Details
Fixture	Cardiff vs Chelsea
Competition	Domestic Cup 2025
Stage	Quarter Finals
Date & Kick-Off	Wednesday, December 17, 2025 – 01:30
Venue	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff (Caerdydd), Wales
Capacity	33,280
Surface	Grass
Weather	4°C – Cold Conditions

Cardiff are likely to play with intensity and direct attacking play, while Chelsea will aim to dominate possession and control the tempo through midfield.

Recent Form Guide – Cardiff vs Chelsea

Cardiff City – Last 5 Matches

Cardiff City have shown impressive attacking output but remain slightly vulnerable defensively, especially against teams that press aggressively.

Date	Opponent	Score	Result
13/12	Doncaster Rovers	4–3	Win
09/12	Stevenage	0–1	Win
06/12	Huddersfield Town	3–2	Win
02/12	AFC Wimbledon	1–5	Loss
29/11	Mansfield Town	3–0	Win

Chelsea – Last 5 Matches

Chelsea’s recent form has been inconsistent, with solid defensive displays mixed with struggles against energetic opponents.

Date	Opponent	Score	Result
13/12	Everton	2–0	Win
09/12	Atalanta	1–2	Loss
06/12	AFC Bournemouth	0–0	Draw
03/12	Leeds United	1–3	Loss
30/11	Arsenal	1–1	Draw

Head-to-Head – Cardiff vs Chelsea (Last 5 Meetings)

Date	Competition	Match	Score
31 Mar 2019	Premier League	Cardiff vs Chelsea	1–2
15 Sep 2018	Premier League	Chelsea vs Cardiff	4–1
11 May 2014	Premier League	Cardiff vs Chelsea	1–2
19 Oct 2013	Premier League	Chelsea vs Cardiff	4–1
13 Feb 2010	FA Cup	Chelsea vs Cardiff	4–1

Summary:

• Chelsea Wins: 5
• Cardiff Wins: 0
• Draws: 0

Chelsea have dominated this fixture historically, often winning by comfortable margins.

Key Players to Watch

Cardiff City – Joel Colwill

2 Goals • 4 Matches
Colwill has been Cardiff’s most reliable attacking outlet in this competition. His movement in the final third and ability to exploit defensive gaps make him a constant threat, especially in transition.

Chelsea – Tyrique George

2 Goals • 4 Matches
George has emerged as a bright spark for Chelsea, offering pace, directness, and composure in front of goal. His ability to stretch the defense could be crucial against Cardiff’s high-energy approach.

Predicted Lineups – Cardiff vs Chelsea

Position	Cardiff City (4-2-3-1)	Chelsea (4-2-3-1)
GK	Nathan Trott	Filip Jörgensen
RB	Mahlon Romeo	Josh Acheampong
CB	Aden Flint	Tosin Adarabioyo
CB	Calum Chambers	Benoît Badiashile
LB	Joel Bagan	Jorrel Hato
CDM	Ryan Wintle	Moisés Caicedo
CDM	Alex Robertson	Andrey Santos
RW	Cian Ashford	Estêvão Willian
CAM	Joel Colwill	Facundo Buonanotte
LW	Isaak Davies	Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
ST	Yousef Salech	Tyrique George

Note: Final lineups will be confirmed approximately one hour before kick-off.

Unavailable Players – Cardiff vs Chelsea

Team	Missing Players	Reason
Cardiff City	Omari Kellyman, Eli King, Gabriel Osho, Jak Alnwick, Ollie Tanner, Rubin Colwill	Suspension, Injuries
Chelsea	Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia, Liam Delap	Suspension, Injuries

Cardiff’s absences reduce depth across defense and midfield, while Chelsea miss key rotation options but still retain squad depth.

Statistical Projection – Cardiff vs Chelsea

Metric	Cardiff	Chelsea
Possession	42%	58%
Shots on Target	3–5	5–7
Expected Goals (xG)	1.0–1.4	1.6–2.0
Clean Sheet Probability	22%	38%
Corners	4–6	6–8
Big Chances	1–2	2–3
Goal Probability	71%	82%
Most Likely Scorer	Joel Colwill	Tyrique George

Chelsea are projected to control the match, but Cardiff remain dangerous at home.

Prediction Summary – Cardiff vs Chelsea

Why Cardiff Could Upset Chelsea

• Strong recent winning momentum
• Home crowd intensity at Cardiff City Stadium
• Direct attacking style that can unsettle Chelsea

Why Chelsea Should Win

• Dominant head-to-head history
• Superior squad depth and midfield control
• Experience in high-pressure knockout matches

This Quarter Final is likely to be competitive early on, but Chelsea’s composure and quality should gradually tilt the balance in their favor.

Final Score Prediction : Cardiff 1–2 Chelsea

Likely Scorers:

• Tyrique George (Chelsea)
• Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)
• Joel Colwill (Cardiff)

Confidence Levels:

• Chelsea Win – 49%
• Draw – 28%
• Cardiff Win – 23%

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Betting Tips by E2bet – Cardiff vs Chelsea

• Match Result: Chelsea Win
• Both Teams to Score: Yes
• Total Goals: Over 2.0
• Anytime Scorer: Tyrique George
• Correct Score (Value Pick): Cardiff 1–2 Chelsea

FAQs – Cardiff vs Chelsea