Chelsea vs Leicester prediction: ENGLAND: FA Cup betting tips on match 2024-03-16 12:45.
[p]With last month’s Carabao Cup final defeat still fresh in their memories, Chelsea will bid to book a return to Wembley with success over Championship leaders Leicester City in this FA Cup quarter-final clash. The Blues have gone undefeated in their three competitive matches (W2, D1) since that extra-time final loss to Liverpool, although those positive results haven’t been convincing, with two goals conceded in each. In fact, it’s now nine straight competitive games that the Blues have failed to shut out an opponent as their defence remains slightly rudderless.[/p]
[p]While form remains patchy for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, there’s no denying the club have a stellar recent pedigree in this competition, reaching the semi-final in five of the last seven campaigns. They’ll also welcome their visitors knowing that they’ve beaten them in five of the last six FA Cup clashes between the two, with the only exception coming in the final of 2021. [/p]
[p]The Foxes travel south in the midst of an enthralling battle to win the Championship title, but a recent wobble of one win in five league games (D1, L3) has provided the chasing pack with hope. They understandably come into this game as underdogs, yet four straight wins on the road in this competition highlight that they tend to come alive in FA Cup battles on enemy turf. [/p]
[p]Of course, Stamford Bridge represents a much tougher environment to succeed than most, especially when you take into account the Foxes’ poor record in West London. They’ve won just one of their last 13 competitive away games against Chelsea (D4, L8), but each of the last six meetings in that run did finish level or were settled by a single goal, highlighting how Leicester have not been far from tipping the scales in their favour a little.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Leicester are a favoured foe for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling who has scored a brace in each of his last two personal H2Hs. Foxes veteran Jamie Vardy has been in fine form since returning from a nine-game injury layoff in January, scoring eight goals in nine competitive appearances since, five of which arrived after half-time. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Chelsea have lost just one of their last 21 FA Cup home games (W18, D2). [/p]