CONFIRMED LINE-UPS!
Cardiff XI: Trott; Ng, Lawlor, Chambers, Bagan; Wintle, J. Colwill, Turnbull; Ashford, Davies, Robinson.
Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, Hato; Andrey Santos, Caicedo; George, Buonanotte, Gittens; Guiu.
Will Castle16 December 2025 18:54
Team news
The line-ups should be released in the next few minutes, so here’s a reminder of the early team news…
For Cardiff, Omair Kellyman is ineligible because he’s on loan from Chelsea and cannot face his parent club. Rubin Colwill will also miss the match as he’s out an ankle injury meaning brother Joel Colwill should return to the front line.
Gabriel Osho and Ollie Tanner will be absentees though the latter is now back in full training after four months out and is on course to be available in the New Year.
Chelsea will be without Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia, Myhaylo Mudryk and Levi Colwill who are all absent through injury. Expect Enzo Maresca to make a heap of changes despite this match being a quarter-final with most of the first choice side – including Reece James and Robert Sanchez – starting on the bench.
Marc Cucurella is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards and Marc Guiu is ineligible having played for Sunderland during his loan spell earlier this year.
Chris Wilson16 December 2025 18:40
How Maresca suddenly plunged Chelsea into chaos
Here’s the report from the win over Everton and Maresca’s comments afterwards…
It would have been an eyebrow-raising comment in any circumstance, but it stood out all the more after the most routine of home wins. Enzo Maresca still came out with the following after Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Everton: “The last 48 hours have been the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because so many people didn’t support us”.
He even reiterated it. There were numerous curiosities to this, mostly the fact that Maresca refused to elaborate on who he was talking about.
When he was asked who, and whether it was “internal”, Maresca said people “in general”.
When asked if it was the fans, he only said, “I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans”.
Chris Wilson16 December 2025 18:25
Head-to-head
These two sides have met a total of 25 times in the past, with Chelsea winning 10, Cardiff winning eight and the other seven ending as draws.
Their last meetings came in the Premier League in 2018/19, when Chelsea won 4-1 at homer and 2-1 in the Welsh capital.
Chris Wilson16 December 2025 18:10
Enzo Maresca defiant over bombshell ‘worst 48 hours’ at Chelsea comment
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca remained defiant over his bombshell comments that he had suffered his “worst 48 hours” at the club when asked to clarify the confusing sentiment.
Maresca caused a stir over the weekend when, following Chelsea’s routine 2-0 victory over Everton, he used his post-match press conference to claim out of the blue that he had endured a torrid few days.
Chris Wilson16 December 2025 17:55
Chelsea suffered huge spike in injuries after Club World Cup, new study reveals
Chelsea experienced a significant 44 per cent surge in injuries following their participation in this year’s expanded Club World Cup, new findings revealed on Tuesday.
However, the latest edition of the Men’s European Football Injury Index suggests the newly enlarged tournament has, so far, had a “minimal impact” on overall injury rates across European football.
The decision by Fifa in 2023 to expand its flagship club event from seven to 32 teams faced considerable opposition, with players’ unions voicing concerns over potential physical and mental burnout due to an ever-growing match schedule.
Chris Wilson16 December 2025 17:40
When is Cardiff vs Chelsea?
Cardiff vs Chelsea is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Tuesday 16 December at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage on the channel from 7.30pm GMT. A live stream will be available via Sky Go.
Chris Wilson16 December 2025 17:28
Possible line-ups
Cardiff XI: Trott; Ng, Fish, Chambers, Bagan; Wintle, Robertson, Turnbull; Ashford, Salech, J. Colwill
Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens; George
Chris Wilson16 December 2025 17:23
Chelsea team news
Chelsea will be without Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia, Myhaylo Mudryk and Levi Colwill who are all absent through injury. Expect Enzo Maresca to make a heap of changes despite this match being a quarter-final with most of the first choice side – including Reece James and Robert Sanchez – starting on the bench.
Marc Cucurella is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards and Marc Guiu is ineligible having played for Sunderland during his loan spell earlier this year.
Chris Wilson16 December 2025 17:18
Cardiff team news
For Cardiff, Omair Kellyman is ineligible because he’s on loan from Chelsea and cannot face his parent club. Rubin Colwill will also miss the match as he’s out an ankle injury meaning brother Joel Colwill should return to the front line.
Gabriel Osho and Ollie Tanner will be absentees though the latter is now back in full training after four months out and is on course to be available in the New Year.
Chris Wilson16 December 2025 17:15
