Chelsea begin their Carabao Cup campaign with a third-round trip to League One side Lincoln City. The Blues, five-time winners of the competition, are heavy favourites but face a Lincoln side unbeaten at home this season and eager to cause an upset under the lights at the LNER Stadium.
Match Details
- Competition: Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) – Third Round
- Date: Tuesday, 23 September 2025
- Kick-off: 21:45 EAT
- Venue: LNER Stadium, Lincoln
Season So Far
Lincoln City (League One)
- Reached Round 3 by beating Harrogate Town (3-1) and Burton Albion (1-0).
- Currently unbeaten at home this season across all competitions.
- Recent results: 3-1 win vs Luton Town, 1-0 win vs Burton, 2-2 vs Wigan, 3-0 vs Notts County (EFL Trophy), 1-1 vs Mansfield.
Chelsea (Premier League)
- Enter the competition in Round 3 as UEFA participants.
- Mixed recent form: defeats to Manchester United (2-1) and Bayern Munich (3-1), but wins over West Ham (5-1) and Fulham (2-0).
- Last reached the Carabao Cup final in 2024.
Head-to-Head History
- This will be only the ninth meeting between the clubs, and the first in the League Cup.
- Chelsea have won five of six Football League encounters with Lincoln.
- Their only knockout clash was in the 1906/07 FA Cup, where Lincoln famously eliminated Chelsea.
- Lincoln are Chelsea’s 71st different opponent in this competition.
Things to Look Out For
- David vs Goliath Clash: Lincoln, celebrating their 140th anniversary, aim for a famous upset against one of England’s biggest clubs.
- Chelsea’s Cup Pedigree: The Blues are London’s most successful Carabao Cup side with five titles and 10 final appearances, second only to Liverpool.
- Upset Specialists: Lincoln shocked Burnley in the 2016/17 FA Cup to reach the quarter-finals as a non-league side, and will look for another scalp.
- Rotation and Opportunity: Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is expected to rotate, giving chances to fringe and young players, while Lincoln will field a strong XI.
- Regulations Reminder: No VAR or goal-line tech at the LNER Stadium; ties go straight to penalties if level after 90 minutes.
What’s at Stake
- Lincoln City: A win would mark one of the biggest results in their history and extend their unbeaten home record.
- Chelsea: Progression is a must as the Blues seek to recover form and keep alive their chances of silverware this season.
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