Chelsea will aim to reach the EFL Cup fourth round when they take on Lincoln City in the third-round clash at Sincil Bank Stadium on Tuesday.
The EFL Cup resumes this midweek with the third round, as Premier League clubs playing in the UEFA Champions League enter the tournament. The action on Tuesday begins with seven simultaneous matches, including Lincoln City vs Chelsea at Sincil Bank Stadium.
Lincoln City reached the EFL Cup third round by beating Harrogate Town and Burton Albion in the previous two stages. The Imps have also been hot off the blocks in League One, having risen to third in the standings after losing only once in nine outings thus far.
On the other hand, Chelsea’s momentum has snapped after an unbeaten start to the 2025/26 season. While the Blues were not as fluent as they would have liked, drawing one game and losing twice in three outings since the international break has been detrimental to their fortunes. Enzo Maresca will now hope his charges can arrest the slide and return to winning ways this midweek.
The most recent clash between Lincoln City and Chelsea ended in a goalless draw over a century ago. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Lincoln City
Michael Skubala has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Lincoln City manager will be bereft of the services of two first-team players vs Chelsea on Tuesday.
The home side will be without versatile attacking midfielder Jack Moylan this midweek, as he is working his way back from an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Skubala is sweating over Dom Jefferies’s fitness, as he is a doubt with a hip issue.
Zach Jeacock should take his spot between the sticks, with Lincoln City lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Tuesday. The backline will likely feature Lewis Montsma, Adam Jackson, Sonny Bradley, and Adam Reach.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Ben House, Finley Barbrook, and Erik Ring in the middle of the park. Finally, Freddie Draper will lead the line for Lincoln City against Chelsea, with Oscar Thorn and Francis Okoronkwo being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Jeacock; Montsma, Jackson, Bradley, Reach; House, Barbrook, Ring; Thorn, Draper, Okoronkwo
Chelsea
Unlike his counterpart in the Lincoln City dugout, Enzo Maresca has a new issue to worry about ahead of the trip to the Sincil Bank Stadium. The Chelsea manager will be without over half a dozen first-team players on Tuesday.
Robert Sanchez is the latest absentee after being sent off in the early stages of the Premier League clash with Manchester United this past weekend. The Spanish international has joined Levi Colwill (knee), Benoit Badiashile (muscular), Romeo Lavia (knock), Dario Essugo (hamstring), and Liam Delap (thigh) on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable after failing a doping test several months ago.
Filip Jorgensen has become an automatic pick between the sticks due to Sanchez’s suspension, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Lincoln City on Tuesday. The backline will feature Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Jorrel Hato.
As for the midfield unit, Andrey Santos should line up alongside Enzo Fernandez in the double pivot. Facundo Buonanotte will reprise the no. 10 role, with Estevao Willian and Alejandro Garnacho being the two wide attackers. Finally, Marc Guiu will spearhead the Chelsea attack against Lincoln City on Tuesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Hato; Santos, Fernandez; Estevao, Buonanotte, Garnacho; Guiu
Key Stats
- Lincoln City and Chelsea have previously locked horns eight times, with the Blues losing only once thus far (W5 D2). Tuesday’s EFL Cup clash between Lincoln City and Chelsea will be the pair’s first meeting in over 100 years. Their last match-up came in March 1911.
- Chelsea are unbeaten at the Sincil Bank Stadium in four meetings (W2 D2). Lincoln City’s only victory against Chelsea was an FA Cup tie at Stamford Bridge 118 years ago in 1907.
- Chelsea have not lost in the third round of the EFL Cup since a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the 2022/23 season.
- The last nine sides to face Chelsea in the EFL Cup for the first time have all lost. The most recent team to win their first meeting with Chelsea in the League Cup was Wimbledon in December 1998.
- Chelsea have lost their last three away matches in the EFL Cup without scoring. The most recent time the West London outfit lost more successive games on the road in the competition was in 1989 (a run of five).
Player to Watch
Filip Jorgensen
While Alejandro Garnacho and Marc Guiu were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Filip Jorgensen as the Player to Watch for Tuesday’s EFL Cup clash between Lincoln City and Chelsea at the Sincil Bank Stadium.
With Robert Sanchez unavailable after being sent off against Manchester United this past weekend, Jorgensen has the golden opportunity to make his mark on Enzo Maresca. While Lincoln City will not threaten much, the Danish international must produce a flawless display to usurp Sanchez as the first-choice goalkeeper for Chelsea.
Prediction
Lincoln City 0-3 Chelsea
Chelsea may have a dreadful recent record in away games in the EFL Cup, but the gulf in quality between the away side and Lincoln City will be telling enough to earn them a straightforward win at the Sincil Bank Stadium. The Imps will not go down without a fight, and they will give the visitors a run for their money.
However, Alejandro Garnacho, Estevao Willian, and Marc Guiu will deliver the goods, helping Chelsea reach the next round of the 2025/26 EFL Cup. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Enzo Maresca and his charges.
