Chelsea face Leeds in an nostalgic concluding semi-final tie of the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup.
Victory would see Chelsea achieve a 17th FA Cup Final appearance in their history, and their first outing in the showpiece match since they lost to Liverpool on penalties in 2022.
Leeds meanwhile are chasing a fifth FA Cup Final appearance – having last advanced past this stage in 1973, which saw them suffer a shock defeat in the final to Sunderland that season.
Team News
Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro are back in training after missing their 3-0 loss at Brighton on Tuesday with respective hamstring and thigh injuries, although the pair face late fitness tests – with Pedro having also sat out their 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester United last Saturday.
Estevao, Reece James, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (all hamstring), Filip Jorgensen (groin), Levi Colwill (ACL) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension) are still sidelined.
Leeds will again be without Ilia Gruev after he missed their 2-2 Premier League draw at Bournemouth on Wednesday evening, due to a knee injury.
Jayden Bogle (foot), Sebastiaan Bornauw and Anton Stach (both ankle) face late fitness tests.
When is Kick-Off?
Chelsea meet Leeds at Wembley Stadium, London, on Sunday 26 April at 3pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have never lost to Leeds in nine previous meetings across six previous ties in the FA Cup (W6, D3).
- Leeds drew 2-2 in their only previous FA Cup meeting against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium, which came in the 1969-70 FA Cup Final before they lost 2-1 in a replay at Old Trafford.
- Chelsea have conceded in six of their nine previous FA Cup meetings against Leeds.
- Four of Chelsea’s 20 FA Cup goals this season have been scored by Pedro Neto.
- Leeds have kept one clean sheet in their four FA Cup matches this season (W2, D2).
Prediction
Although league goals have proven tough to find in the last two months, Chelsea certainly haven’t had that same issue in the FA Cup with 11 goals in their last two matches but it is worth acknowledging that they’ve not met fellow top-flight opposition in this cup run until now.
Liam Rosenoir’s sacking therefore wasn’t surprising following a shambolic display at Brighton where they frankly didn’t look motivated in the first half, but Calum McFarlane faces a tough task to drum confidence back into them in a massive cup semi-final like this.
Leeds meanwhile have found their groove since the return from the international break because aside from their late defensive slips in the Quarter-Final win at West Ham, they have looked very solid and can afford to put everything into this with top-flight survival now virtually assured.
They also did well to twice fight back at Bournemouth on Wednesday evening with a strong attitude, which will give them additional belief that they can cause a minor cupset and get their first FA Cup win over Chelsea, but I expect the Blues to be fired up under McFarlane.
Leeds’ superior confidence and improved form though could prove telling if they can frustrate Chelsea and take their chances.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Leeds
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