English Other
2025-09-23 - Burnley vs Cardiff City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League Cup Third Round
Tuesday 23rd September 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Burnley
The last couple of Premier League seasons have raised concerns that a real gap has developed between the top flight and the Championship and yo-yo clubs like Burnley have perhaps highlighted the issue. However, Scott Parker and the current squad have made a really positive start to the new season, despite the difficult fixtures handed to them, and Burnley fans have to be feeling pretty optimistic.
There is no doubt that the Premier League is going to be the priority for Parker and the board, but the Cup runs are always well appreciated by the fans and the draw has not been unkind. After a run of four consecutive League Cup Fourth Round defeats, Burnley were beaten in the Second Round last season as promotion was the sole focus. They have already beaten Derby County at Turf Moor this season though and Burnley are favourites to at least make the Fourth Round again.
Burnley came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday and that ended a run of consecutive Premier League defeats following the victory over Derby County in the League Cup Second Round. It also means Burnley's home form remains strong and that will give the squad confidence in the weeks and months ahead.
Everyone has to be expecting wholesale changes to the first team for this game, but that also means an opportunity for squad players to show their value.
Cardiff City
A young squad is being used by Cardiff City as financial issues prevented them from bringing in the experience that some may have expected, but they still entered the season amongst the favourites for promotion in League One. It is the first time in almost thirty years that Cardiff City have slipped into the third tier, but Brian Barry-Murphy has not allowed anything to dim his enthusiasm for the campaign ahead.
The start made to the new season will certainly have fuelled the Head Coach's belief and Cardiff City are 4th in a very competitive Division, although they did suffer the first League defeat of the campaign this past weekend. In 2012, Cardiff City finished Runners Up in the League Cup, but they have not been past the Third Round since then as they look to build on wins over Swindon Town and Cheltenham Town in the previous Rounds.
Cardiff City may have lost at Norwich City to conclude their Championship season, but they had opened up this season by being unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions. That run was ended emphatically in the 1-3 home loss to Bradford City on Saturday, and now The Bluebirds have to try and bounce back and extend the 5 away game unbeaten run.
There will be an opportunity for some new faces to come into the starting eleven for this away Cup tie.
Head to Head
Last season Burnley and Cardiff City played in the same Championship Division, and it was the former who won both League games on the way back to the Premier League, while the latter were eventually Relegated.
Burnley have won 3 in a row at Turf Moor against this opponent.
Prediction
The early Rounds of the League Cup can throw up plenty of upsets and there will be some looking to back Cardiff City to perhaps earn one of those against a Burnley team prioritising the Premier League.
However, the League One club suffered a big home loss this past weekend and even those clubs from outside the Premier League have begun to use the Cup competitions as a chance to give fringe players opportunities.
Burnley may make wholesale changes, but the squad should still be good enough to earn a spot in the League Cup Fourth Round and they may do so in some style.
The Pick :
Burnley 3-1 Cardiff City
