Chelsea vs Leeds: Carabao Cup Match Preview

Chelsea welcome Leeds United to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in a third-round Carabao Cup tie with a place in the last 16 at stake. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM BST (12:30 AM IST on September 10).

Chelsea will be looking to bounce back after suffering their first defeat under new manager Xabi Alonso, losing to Arsenal in the Premier League. Alonso has made an encouraging start to life in west London, winning his first three matches before that setback, and the cup provides an opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Leeds arrive in London with plenty of confidence. Daniel Farke's side remain unbeaten this season and have already progressed through the previous round of the Carabao Cup. They will also remember their recent FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea, giving this meeting another interesting storyline.

Match Details

Match Detail	Information
Competition	Carabao Cup – Third Round
Match	Chelsea vs Leeds United
Date	September 9, 2026
Kick-off	8:00 PM BST / 12:30 AM IST
Venue	Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea Manager	Xabi Alonso
Leeds Manager	Daniel Farke

Key Players

Chelsea: Danny Welbeck, João Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Estêvão

Leeds: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha, Dan James, James Trafford

Danny Welbeck could be handed another start after scoring in Chelsea's previous Carabao Cup game against Luton Town. The experienced striker is one of the players who could make the difference if Alonso rotates his squad.

Team News

Chelsea have several midfield concerns, with Moisés Caicedo, Jordan Henderson and Marco Palestra among those unavailable or doubtful. Alonso is therefore expected to rotate, potentially giving opportunities to younger players.

Leeds could be without Joe Rodon and Dan James, while Ilia Gruev is pushing for a possible return. Farke is also expected to make changes but will be keen to keep Leeds' unbeaten run going.

What to Watch

The biggest question is how much Chelsea's rotation affects their control of the game. Leeds have been difficult to beat this season and will likely try to make the match physical and direct.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have more attacking depth and home advantage. If their younger players settle quickly, they should create enough chances to take control.

Who Has the Chance?

Leeds have every reason to believe they can cause a surprise, especially given their unbeaten start. However, Chelsea's squad depth and home advantage make them the slight favourites.

Expect Leeds to make life difficult, but Chelsea should eventually find a way through.

Prediction

Chelsea 2–1 Leeds United

Chelsea may not have everything their own way, but their attacking quality should be enough to send them into the Carabao Cup last 16.