Chelsea host Swansea city at Stamford Bridge this evening in the first leg of the second League Cup semi-final.
Chelsea remain the favourites to win the tournament at 1/2 with Bet365 and they remain the heavy favourites to win this tie at 9/20 with BetVictor. Rafael Benitez will be on the hunt for some silverware and a first leg advantage which will give his side the best chance of going to Wembley.
Swansea city go into this game with nothing to lose and their manager, Michael Laudrup, is likely to encourage them to attack. Swansea play some of the best football in the country when they are relaxed and 15/2 from Boylesports looks like a great price which could go even shorter before kick-off.
Chelsea Betting Tips
The first goalscorer favourites for Chelsea are Demba Ba at 7/2 with BetVictor and Fernando Torres at 9/2 with the same bookie. They are unlikely to start together and Torres should just get the nod ahead of Ba as he has been involved in the side through the earlier rounds of the competition.
Chelsea have a midfield which is packed with pace and talent and Benitez will be urging them to press Swansea into their half of the pitch and pile on the pressure. Chelsea need as big a margin as possible heading into the second leg in Wales and a Chelsea win by two goals looks decent at 10/3 with Bet365.
A slightly better way of getting improved value on a direct Chelsea win is to back them to win both halves of the match at 11/10 with Boylesports. Bear in mind Chelsea will be looking for a fast start to put Swansea on the back foot before pressing for a greater advantage in the second 45 minutes.
Swansea City Betting Tips
Michu was on the bench over the weekend for the FA Cup tie against Arsenal and he should be fresh and ready to start for the side this evening. He is 11/5 with Bet365 to score at any point during the game and his recent brace against Arsenal shows he’s not intimidated by playing away at the big clubs.
Swansea will be looking to soak up the Chelsea pressure before pushing for a goal of their own. A 2-1 Swansea win and a 1-0 win are both good options and both priced at 25/1 with BetVictor. Remember, this is a Chelsea team which has just lost 1-0 at home to QPR.
If you’re a little more worried about backing Swansea then consider a handicap bet. Boylesports will give you 4/7 that Swansea will end the match ahead starting with an advantage of two goals. This doesn’t present great value but gives you a chance to win some cash if you’d rather back the Swans.
If you’re thinking of signing up for a sports betting account, use the banners above to get a £200 free bet from Bet365, a £25 free bet from BetVictor and a £20 free bet from Boylesports.