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2026-08-26 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League Cup Second Round
Wednesday 26th August 2026 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Tottenham Hotspur
Whenever a club spends as lavishly as Tottenham Hotspur did in this summer transfer window, no one can be surprised if the fans have a big expectation coming into the new season. Back to back 17th place finishes in the Premier League clearly suggest Roberto De Zerbi's team are starting from a low point, but that does not mean supporters are going to be enamoured by too many more performances like the one produced on the opening weekend.
Losing at Brentford is not the issue, but losing in the manner that Tottenham Hotspur did is very concerning as they struggled in all aspects of their football. Roberto De Zerbi made his feelings known, but Spurs have an opportunity to make early amends with the team joining the League Cup in the Second Round as they will not be involved in European Football over the next nine months.
Tottenham Hotspur reached the Semi Final of the League Cup two seasons ago, but they have won one tie in the competition outside of that run over the last four campaigns. Last season Tottenham Hotspur only one a single domestic Cup tie, while the side had won just 1 of 8 home games in all competitions before beating Everton 1-0 on the final day of last season.
Both Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro will be available for selection, although they are going to start on the bench, while James Maddison is a doubt. Changes are likely going to be made to the starting eleven, but they may not be wholesale changes this early in the season.
Charlton Athletic
Manager Nathan Jones has experienced significantly more success than merely helping a club survive in the Championship, but that was a very successful season for Charlton Athletic and Jones deserves credit. Pre-season expectations were for another relegation scrap, but Charlton Athletic have opened the season with consecutive 2-1 wins in the Championship.
The victory at the London Stadium this past weekend will have been particularly enjoyed by the Charlton Athletic fans and some may be wondering if the team are capable of an outside push for the Play Offs, especially with 8th place now being involved in the post-season. Nathan Jones will be urging his players to take things a game at a time and Charlton Athletic have only been beyond the League Cup Second Round once in the last ten seasons.
Charlton Athletic opened the season with an away win at Cheltenham Town in the League Cup First Round before beating Derby County and promotion favourites West Ham United in the Championship. The Addicks have lost 1 of the last 5 games in all competitions, while the early away results this season means Charlton Athletic have lost 1 of the last 10 in all competitions away from The Valley.
Some changes have to be expected as is the situation for clubs throughout the Football League in the early Rounds of the League Cup. However, Nathan Jones may also see this as an opportunity to build on the early season momentum and so familiar faces should be involved in what is likely to be a mixed starting eleven.
Head to Head
Tottenham Hotspur beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 at White Hart Lane back in January 2011 in the FA Cup.
That means Spurs have won the last 3 matches when hosting The Addicks.
Prediction
The League Cup is not a massive priority for top Premier League clubs, at least not at this stage of the season, but Tottenham Hotspur fans will be hoping the absence of European commitments will mean the manager takes the domestic Cup competitions seriously.
Being at home gives Tottenham Hotspur an advantage, but Roberto De Zerbi will have been working to pick his players up after a very disappointing opening weekend of the season in the Premier League.
Some important players are back in the squad on Wednesday and Tottenham Hotspur did show enough in pre-season to expect a positive reaction.
However, it is also important to get the fans behind them and that means making a fast start back in this part of North London where Tottenham Hotspur struggled to perform under the weight of pressure last season.
There will be pressure on them against a lower League opponent, although Charlton Athletic have to be respected after opening the season with 3 wins in all competitions. One of those came at the London Stadium against 'Premier League quality' in the form of West Ham United and Nathan Jones will want his team to exploit any nerves in the home team.
It is still asking a lot from The Addicks who were crushed at home by Chelsea in the FA Cup last season and Spurs may have enough in the final third to eventually overwhelm this opponent in this London derby.
The Pick :
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Charlton Athletic
