Chelsea vs Leeds United: Match preview, predicted line-ups, team news and prediction | OneFootball

Chelsea take on Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

The winner of this tie will progress to the May 16 showpiece final and will face either Manchester City or Southampton.

Match preview

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior was dismissed after Tuesday’s dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, a result that extended their losing streak to five Premier League games without scoring.

Calum McFarlane has stepped in as interim boss, just as he did following Enzo Maresca’s exit in early January. He will aim to lead Chelsea to their 17th FA Cup final and first appearance since 2022.

The Blues have an impressive history in FA Cup semi-finals, advancing from nine of their last 11 appearances. Their only defeats were against Manchester City in the 2012/13 and 2023/24 campaigns.

Despite their league struggles, Chelsea are the competition’s top scorers with 20 goals, including seven in their quarter-final rout of Port Vale.

They could also etch their name into the record books by becoming the first side to score four or more goals in five straight FA Cup games.

Leeds have hit a strong run of form, recording seven games without defeat across all competitions and edging away from relegation in the top flight.

The Whites will be determined to halt Chelsea’s progress, having made history as the first newly promoted side to reach the FA Cup semi-finals since Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018/19.

If they overcome Chelsea and reach the FA Cup final for the first time since the 1972/73 season, Leeds will be dreaming of a first FA Cup triumph since the 1971/72 campaign.

Team news

McFarlane confirmed that Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro have trained and could feature in the semi-final clash.

However, Estevao Willian is out for the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury, joining Reece James, Levi Colwill, Jamie Gittens and Filip Jorgensen on the sidelines.

Leeds will be without Ilia Gruev. Jayden Bogle, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Anton Stach are doubtful.

Predicted line-ups

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella, Santos, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Neto, Joao Pedro.

Leeds United (3-4-2-1): Perri, Struijk, Bijol, Rodon, Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson, Aaronson, Okafor, Calvert-Lewin.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Leeds United.