Chelsea host Bournemouth on Wednesday night in the EFL Cup quarter-final, as the two sides eye-up a place in the competitions last-four.
The Carabao Cup may not be the home side’s priority this season, but a place in the semi-final of the competition is at stake. Antonio Conte is likely to rotate his squad for this clash, with fringe players coming into the starting line-up.
The reigning Premier League champions head into this clash in high spirits after consecutive top-flight wins over Huddersfield and last time out Southampton.
Conte’s side have enjoyed a fairly easy passage to this stage of the competition, beating Nottingham Forest and Everton in the previous rounds at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have a good record on home soil in this competition, winning their last six games, five of them in 90 minutes and one of them in extra time.
Like the home side, Bournemouth’s priorities lie elsewhere, as the Cherries have slipped alarming towards the Premier League relegation zone.
Eddie Howe’s team are now just one point clear of the drop zone after a terrible run of form. In fact, the Cherries have now failed to win in their last six games and could do without a visit to Stamford Bridge.
Bournemouth boss Howe is likely to rotate his team, as he looks to keep his players fresh for a daunting trip to runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday.
Bournemouth have eliminated Birmingham, Brighton and Middlesbrough in the previous rounds. However, a trip to south west London will be a far bigger challenge.
The Cherries recent away form has not been terrible. However, they have failed to win in their last three games on the road.
Forebet predicts that Chelsea will record a relatively comfortable win against the out-of-form south coast outfit.