Cardiff x Chelsea: where to watch live, time and lineups for the English League Cup game

Cardiff City and The confrontation is worth a place in the semifinals of Copa of Liga Inglesa, also known as Carabao Cup. Chelsea arrives as favorites, even playing away from home, while Cardiff is aiming for an unprecedented classification against a team from Premier League.

The departure is at 5pm at Brasília time. Os Blues seek to advance in a competition that they prioritize to win trophies in the season. Já o Cardiff, leader of League One, counts on the home advantage to try to surprise.

The duel brings together teams from different divisions, with Chelsea betting on its technical superiority. Cardiff eliminated difficult opponents in the previous stages and arrives confident.

• Broadcast on Brasil: ESPN and Disney+.
• Arbitration: Tony Harrington.
• Stadium capacity: Aproximadamente 33 thousand fans.
• History: Chelsea won the last direct meetings.

Quarter-final action. 👊🔜#CFC | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/pnB5lH8wTp

—Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)December 16, 2025

Team trajectory in the competition

Cardiff City advanced to the quarterfinals after eliminating Wrexham 2-1 in the previous phase. The English third division team demonstrated strength in knockout games and arrives with the lead in League One. The team has scored goals in practically every match of the competition so far and is looking to exploit counterattacks against Chelsea.

Chelsea beat Wolverhampton 4-3 in an electrifying game in the round of 16. Os Blues had difficulties at times, but relied on individual performances to advance. The London team rotated the squad in previous rounds and must repeat the strategy to preserve starters in December’s tight schedule.

Both teams have won their most recent games in domestic competitions. Cardiff comes from consecutive victories in the league, while Chelsea interrupted a winless streak in Premier League.

Absences and doubts in the lineups

Cardiff City faces important absences for the match. Rubin Colwill remains out with an ankle injury, while Ollie Tanner and Gabriel Osho are also in the medical department. Omari Kellyman, on loan from Chelsea, cannot play due to a contractual clause, which prevents his participation against his home club.

In Chelsea, Enzo Maresca handles multiple casualties. Marc Cucurella is suspended due to accumulation of cards in the competition, and Marc Guiu is ineligible as he has already played for another club in the cup. Lesões affects players like Romeo Lavia, Levi Colwill and others, forcing rotations with young players at the base.

The Italian coach must promote debuts or opportunities for promises like Estêvão and Tyrique George. The defense will also have changes, with possible entries of Josh Acheampong and Tosin Adarabioyo.

Probable lineups for the duel

Cardiff City should enter the field with a balanced formation, prioritizing defensive solidity.

• Goalkeeper: Nathan Trott.
• Defenders: Perry Ng, Will Fish, Calum Chambers and Joel Bagan.
• Midfield: Ryan Wintle, Alex Robertson and David Turnbull.
• Attack: Cian Ashford, Yousef Salech and Isaak Davies.

Chelsea bets on a line with young talents in attack and experience in the middle.

• Goalkeeper: Filip Jörgensen.
• Defenders: Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile and Jorrel Hato.
• Midfield: Moisés Caicedo and Andrey Santos.
• Attack: Estêvão, Facundo Buonanotte, Jamie Gittens and Tyrique George.

These formations reflect the options available to coaches Brian Barry-Murphy and Enzo Maresca. Alterações may occur according to the players’ conditions.

Recent form of Cardiff City

Cardiff City is going through an excellent moment this season. The team leads League One with a four-point advantage over the vice-leader. Nos recorded convincing victories in recent games, including a 4-3 victory over Doncaster Rovers.

Yousef Salech stands out in attack with regular goals. The defense, captained by Calum Chambers, ex-Arsenal, shows consistency at home. The team has scored in almost every recent game and is looking to repeat its performance against elite opponents.

Rotation and young people in Chelsea

Enzo Maresca uses Copa from Liga to test base players. Estêvão, a recent signing, has already shown quality in previous matches. Jamie Gittens and Facundo Buonanotte gain important minutes.

The midfield has Moisés Caicedo as a reference. The defense alternates starters with reserves to manage wear and tear. Essa strategy allowed advances in past editions of the competition.

Head-to-head history

Chelsea dominates recent record against Cardiff. Os Blues have won the last five games, with a high goal average. The last meeting took place in 2019, at Premier League.

However, Cardiff has a tradition in cups and has already surprised bigger teams. Duas old wins in Copa of Liga favor the Welsh in this particular tournament. The duel promises balance despite London’s favoritism.

Expectations for the match

Analysts point to the victory of Chelsea due to the difference in divisions. The Premier League team has greater squad depth. Cardiff, however, plays at home and can get complicated with high intensity.

The game defines the first semifinalist of the competition. Outras quarterfinals involve teams from the English elite. The vacancy guarantees continuity in the search for the title.