On Saturday evening, Middlesbrough hosts Chelsea at the Riverside Stadium in one of the four FA Cup quarter-finals.

Middlesbrough

The team from the north east are battling for a place in the Championship play-offs for a return to the Premier League. They are currently only outside the play-off spots courtesy of an inferior goals for record to sixth-place QPR.

A 2-0 win at Birmingham last time out ended a short run of two games without a win in all competitions. The victory gave Boro a much-needed boost ahead of this difficult clash.

Middlesbrough will be eying another giant scalp in the FA Cup, having eliminated Manchester United and Tottenham in the last two rounds of the grand old competition.

Chelsea

The Blues head to the Riverside Stadium in good form and looking to avoid a potential giant banana skin. On Wednesday night, Thomas Tuchel’s team recorded a 2-1 win at Lille to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The win was the Blues fifth straight victory in all competitions.

A key factor in Chelsea’s recent good form has been their attacking prowess, as the Blues have scored at least two goals in four of their previous five matches in all competitions.

The team from south west London have a good recent record in the FA Cup. The Blues were beaten finalists last year at Wembley against Leicester.

In their quest to go one step further this season, Tuchel’s team has had a fairly comfortable path to this quarter-finals, facing Chesterfield, Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town, although they did need extra time to see off Plymouth in the fourth round.

Middlesbrough vs Chelsea Team News

Middlesbrough doesn’t have any reported injury absentees, so boss Chris Wilder should have a full squad to choose from. Chelsea head coach Tuchel may choose to rotate his squad after midweek exertions. Ben Chilwell is their only confirmed absentee, but Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi are both injury doubts though.