Chelsea
Chelsea vs Swansea Preview, Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score
Chelsea welcome Swansea City to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night for the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi final. Here’s a preview for the big game.
Chelsea welcome Swansea City to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night for the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi final.
It may not be the Blues first priority this season, but the Capital One Cup still represents Rafa Benitez’s best chance of picking up some silverware this term after narrowly missing out on the World Club Cup title in Japan last month.
The European champions will face an impressive Swansea outfit who will be looking to go one better than rivals Cardiff, who lost in the 2012 final, by bringing the trophy back to Wales for the first time.
Michael Laudrup’s men have beaten Barnsley, Crawley, Liverpool and Middlesbrough on their way to the semi-final’s and will be hoping for a positive result to take back to the Liberty Stadium for the second leg.
Team News
Chelsea boss Benitez has no new injury problems ahead of the game. The Spaniard will continue to be without goalkeeper Petr Cech who is still recovering from a groin problem.
Captain John Terry is making good progress in his recovery from a knee injury and could take part in the Blues under-21 clash with Stoke on Thursday, but will once again be missing from first team duties against the Swans.
Nigerian duo John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses are unavailable after heading off on international duty to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations. Ryan Bertrand is likely to replace Ashley Cole at left back as he has done in the majority of cup games this season while new signing Demba Ba is also expected to retain his place after an impressive debut against Southampton.
Gerhard Tremmel is pushing first choice goalkeeper Michel Vorm for a starting place after playing in all the previous four rounds of the competition, but Laudrup may decide to stick with his No.1 for such a big game.
Right-back Angel Rangel is expected to be fit despite a calf problem and key trio Pablo Hernandez, Ashley Williams and Michu are all expected to return to the starting line-up after being rested against Arsenal at the weekend.
Likely Line-ups
Predicted Score
Chelsea have an excellent domestic cup record and will be appearing in their 11th League Cup semi final tonight – progressing to the final on the last three occasions. Swansea on the other hand are making their debut in the semi’s of this cup, so it shows what the Swans are up against. Despite the Welsh clubs impressive run, we can see Chelsea holding an advantage going into the second leg. Chelsea 2-0 Swansea
What would your line-up be and what’s your score prediction? Get involved in the comments section below.
Dave (CFC Fan in Portsmouth)
January 9, 2013 at 2:03 pm
You start your report by saying Moses and Obi are unavailable as they have left for the ACN and then include Moses in your starting line-up, Oscar or Ramires instead.
Onos kelly frm oginibo
January 9, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Yes all i should be interested for is to see Demba Ba start ahead of poor torres
Akin
January 9, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Benitez should start Ba instead of Torres
agu success
January 9, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Benitez should use both torres and demba ba
Razak
January 9, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Turmbul,azpilicueta,cole,ivanorvich,cahill,luis,ramires,oscer,mata,hazard,demba ba.4>1
min
January 9, 2013 at 3:17 pm
if possible
min
January 9, 2013 at 3:18 pm
but i wanna to see both player ba & torres
Nifemi
January 9, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Yu sed “mikel & moses are out 4 d AFCON” bt stil ‘moses’ is selected in ur possible line-up. I wud lov 2 c BA stat alongsyd TORRES.
big daveo
January 9, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Isn’t ba cup-tied ?
deon onabunrekhan
January 9, 2013 at 2:49 pm
yes,i love the selection rafa has made.ba is indeed a better option upfront compared to lack of killer instinct player,torres!
Paul peter agbatse
January 9, 2013 at 2:53 pm
All i no is Chelsea fc will win the match not withstanding who ever start. I am not expecting too much goals… But 4 v 0 is enough against swansea
Iyamu kingsley
January 9, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Bt moses hv left for afcon tournament he shld be replaced by ramires or oscar
clement oduro
January 9, 2013 at 3:06 pm
i think Ba shud start alongside torres since torres is very versatile and more of a supportin striker oda da a striker.BLues 4 live.da pensioneers
maikano tijani
January 9, 2013 at 3:07 pm
My line up.tumbul,azpliqueta,ivanovic,cahil,ashle cole,luiz,ramirez,mata,hazard,marin,ba
oscar d1
January 9, 2013 at 3:25 pm
4get about anybody start play Ǧ☺☺ϑ football win match for ♍ε. Ba or torres. Any body can start, use torres as winger ba should up fornth. 4-o chelsea .
Shanshy
January 9, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Ba shld be rested for de wkend Stoke clash
yemmy-viktors
January 9, 2013 at 3:29 pm
I would laik Benitez to eject Luiz from dah midfield and inject Oscar in his stead:::::
min
January 9, 2013 at 3:30 pm
we win 3-0
yemmy-viktors
January 9, 2013 at 3:30 pm
I would laik Benitez to eject Luiz from dat midfield and inject Oscar in his stead.
Bola (bb london)
January 9, 2013 at 3:46 pm
I will like to urge BENITEZ to prove is profession on this capital one, CHELSEA FC need the cup bitterly…
Marouane uwailo
January 9, 2013 at 4:04 pm
I will be happy if rafa start both poor torre and highly rated demba ba in the game to bring out the best among them….thanks
Sanusi nurudeen
January 9, 2013 at 4:09 pm
We will beat swansea atleast 4 0 demba should start while elnino should sit on bench
Nnaji vic
January 9, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Let benitez play ramires or oscar in dat midfied instead of luiz
Korede
January 9, 2013 at 4:45 pm
My lineup:turnbull,azpi,cahill,ivaovic,a.cole,luiz,lampard,oscar,hazard,mata,BA…….GOOD LUCK!
Longe seun
January 9, 2013 at 4:46 pm
Kudos to all chelsea fans, Benitez is jst teasing us with assumption line-up and he changed formation anyhow he likes. Lets us wait till 15minute before the match that is where every fans will see Benitez line-up. Thanks!
Miled Akkary
January 9, 2013 at 5:37 pm
This is how it should be:
Turnbull
Azpilicueta – Ivanovic – Cahill – Cole
Lampard – Luiz
Oscar – Mata – Hazard
Ba
Subs: Hilario – Bertrand – Ferreira – Torres – Ramires – Piazon – Ake
Solak aremu
January 9, 2013 at 5:42 pm
Yes that was a good information. i like ba more than torres the promble that chelsea we have is turnbull.
McInas
January 9, 2013 at 6:09 pm
dnt u ever play bertrand ok!
Infinity
January 9, 2013 at 7:11 pm
Tunbull aspiliqueta ivanovic cahill betrand luiz ramirez hazard oscar marin ba 4-2-3-1 or Tunbull ferrera ivanovic cahill cole mata ramirez luiz hazard torres ba 4-2-2-1-1 perfect chelsea 4 lyf
Dagsmartiano
January 9, 2013 at 7:42 pm
up blues!
Pls Hazard and marine shud jst be there alongside wit Mr. Capable Ba’. And we will arrive at 4-1