CHELSEA v LEICESTER CITY
Football : England : FA Cup
Sunday, March 18th, 2012, 2:05PM GMT

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PREVIEW

Champions League and FA Cup double, anyone?

I'm joking of course. While there can be no faulting Chelsea's excellent comeback against Napoli in midweek, the truth is the win has just added 2 more tough and exhausting contests to the Blues fixture list, unnecessary when you consider they are chasing 4th place in the league and a much more attainable FA Cup trophy.

The main positives are Di Matteo salvaging the tie after they had fallen to a 3-1 deficit under the previous manager, and the belief and confidence this will instill in the team. That is no bad thing, and it may prove a huge help here.

Leicester City dumped out Norwich at Carrow Road 2-1, their first win away in the FA Cup in 7 years, and are the only non-Premier League side left in the competition. Leicester are away from home again, but against much stronger opposition, and one buoyed by that quite brilliant 4-1 win over Napoli, where Drogba, Lampard and Terry made a massive statement for the aging members of the squad.

John Terry and David Luiz mmay or may not play (they have Cahill anyway), but Raul Meireles is back after suspension and Drogba will definitely take his place in the line-up, along with Mata and Lampard. There is enough talent here to do a number on Leicester City.

Chelsea's change in manager is reaping benefits. Since AVB was sacked, Di Matteo has seen his side brush aside Birmingham in the FA Cup, before beating Stoke in the league and then of course turning Napoli over. Momentum like that is hard to bet against and that is why I have to go with Chelsea in todays game.

BETTING VERDICT

I have a feeling, looking at that game against Stoke, that Leicester may well try and frustrate Chelsea. If they come and have a go, they may well go the way of Napoli, and the Foxes will not want that.

A lot of defence is what I am expecting, and I can see Chelsea happy to wait for their chance before taking it.

This match has the feel of a 2-0 or perhaps even a 2-1 Chelsea win over it, but with the high prices on Under 2.5 goals (influenced solely by the goal-fest in the Champions League, no doubt) it makes sense to have a punt on a tight close game with not many goals.

The Pick :

Chelsea to win

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Under 2.5 goals @ 2.43 (Pinnacle)