Chelsea are set to begin their EFL Cup campaign by hosting League Two side AFC Wimbledon at Stamford Bridge in the second round.
While the Blues enter the tournament at the second stage, their opponents have already pulled off a significant upset by eliminating Coventry City in the first round.
Chelsea, due to their 12th-place finish in the 2022-23 Premier League season, find themselves in unfamiliar territory in the EFL Cup, participating in the second round for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Unlike English teams in European competitions who receive a bye into the third round, Mauricio Pochettino’s team faces an additional challenge if they hope to secure their sixth EFL Cup title, the last of which they won in the 2014-15 season.
Watch Mauricio Pochettino's look ahead to AFC Wimbledon LIVE! https://t.co/LguaEE8cHP
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 29, 2023
Chelsea have not exited the League Cup in the second round since the 1995-96 edition, where they were defeated by Stoke City over two legs.
However, their hopes were dashed in the third round last year when they lost to Manchester City, following their penalty shootout loss to Liverpool in the 2022 final.
Must Read: Turkish giants Fenerbahce offered the chance to sign Callum Hudson-Odoi
Pochettino, eager to progress to the third round, secured his first win as Chelsea’s head coach in a match against Luton Town, with Raheem Sterling’s exceptional performance leading to a 3-0 victory.
The Blues are determined to avoid their first EFL Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge since October 2019 when they were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United in the fourth round.
In contrast to Chelsea, Wimbledon heads into Wednesday’s match with an unbeaten record in the 2023-24 season. However, their quest for a third consecutive victory was halted when recently relegated Forest Green Rovers visited Plough Lane over the weekend.
Chelsea vs. AFC Wimbledon: Head-to-head
Chelsea have played Wimbledon FC 30 times in the past, securing victory in 12 of those matches and losing seven. Their most recent meeting took place in the Premier League back in 2000.
Form Guide:
Chelsea (in all competitions): D, L, W
AFC Wimbledon (in all competitions): D, W, D, W, W, D
Chelsea vs. AFC Wimbledon: Team News
New signing Djordje Petrovic was present in Chelsea’s recent win over Luton Town and joined from New England Revolution to strengthen the club’s goalkeeping department.
He might have a chance to make his debut against a fourth-tier opponent this week.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino is expected to make several changes to the team, with players like Diego Moreira, Ian Maatsen, Noni Madueke, Bashir Humphreys, and Marc Cucurella getting opportunities to showcase their abilities.
However, Romeo Lavia is unlikely to feature until after the international break. Several players, including Armando Broja, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Marcus Bettinelli, Christopher Nkunku, Carney Chukwuemeka, Reece James, and Trevoh Chalobah, are currently in the treatment room, and Mykhaylo Mudryk’s availability depends on his recovery from a minor injury.
An injury update ahead of tomorrow night's game. ⤵️
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 29, 2023
As for Wimbledon, they have been hit by injuries to key players ahead of their trip to West London. Captain Jake Reeves and midfield partner Armani Little both had to be substituted due to injuries in their recent draw with Forest Green.
Reeves has a hamstring injury, and it’s likely that he will miss the second round, joining Paul Kalambayi and Huseyin Biler on the injury list. Little’s condition is uncertain.
However, Reeves’s replacement, Ball, made a positive impact when he came on, and he is expected to fill in for the captain in the midfield. Harry Pell is also ready to step in if Little is unavailable for the match.
Our Final Prediction: Chelsea 4-0 AFC Wimbledon:
Wimbledon’s strong beginning in the League Two season deserves recognition, and they should approach the match in West London without hesitation, especially given their earlier victory over Coventry City, which surprised many.
Although Pochettino is likely to field a relatively inexperienced team, Chelsea’s talented young players are expected to outperform their fourth-tier opponents.
The manager also has a wealth of backup options at his disposal if needed.
