Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
Kickoff: 20:00 UK/ 21:00 CET
Date: 8th May 2017
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Chelsea host Middlesbrough as they look to wrap up their title charge. A win for the Blues would keep them top and see them move seven points clear of closest rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
On the other hand, a win for Middlesbrough would keep them 19th but it is necessary if they want to keep their slim survival hopes alive.
Chelsea
Chelsea look all but certain to clinch the title this season. They are four points above second place Spurs with Tottenham only having three games left to play. Moreover, Spurs also did Chelsea a huge favour on Friday when they lost 1-0 to West Ham. So, if Chelsea are to beat Boro they will be seven points clear with three games left and the title will surely be theirs.
Injury news: David Luiz has a small knock but should be ok to play.
Middlesbrough
With just three games left of the season, Middlesbrough are all but certain to be relegated. After Swansea’s win against Everton on Saturday, Middlesbrough are now seven points from safety with only nine points left available. This means if Boro are to lose on Monday they are down. Therefore, if Middlesbrough wants to have any small hope of staying up this year they have to beat Chelsea.
While Agnew’s men put in a great performance last time out against Manchester City, they seem to have left it too late to start playing well and picking up points.
Injury news: Ramirez and Leadbitter will face late fitness tests. Valdes is still injured and unlikely to feature.
Predicted line-ups
Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro, Hazard, Costa
Middlesbrough XI: Guzan, Fabio, Gibson, Chambers, Friend, De Roon, Clayton, Forshaw, Traore, Negredo, Downing
Head to head
The two sides have met a total of 115 times. Middlesbrough have won 31 times with Chelsea winning almost double with 55. The remaining 29 games ended in draws.
In the reverse fixture, this season, Chelsea narrowly beat Boro 1-0. Diego Costa was the goal scorer on that day.
Middlesbrough have not beaten Chelsea since August 2006 in a 2-1 Premier League win.
Recent form
Chelsea: WWLWW
Middlesbrough: DLLWD
Prediction
Last time out Middlesbrough put in one of their best performances this season against Manchester City and will be looking to put in a similar shift against league leaders Chelsea. However, Chelsea are in much better form than City and are closing in on becoming champions. Therefore a win for Chelsea is all but certain especially given the quality of their attack.
Final score prediction: 3-0 Chelsea
Odds
Chelsea: 1/6
Draw: 11/2
Middlesbrough: 16/1
