🏏 Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:00 BST
Chelsea
vs
Leeds United
4-2-3-1 vs 3-4-2-1
Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- The FA Cup semi-final stage sees eighth-placed Chelsea and 15th-placed Leeds clash in a tie unique to the cup. If they reach the final, Chelsea chase a ninth title, their first in three years, while Leeds aim for their first final in 52 years, including their Championship-era years. Both teams are struggling in the league but are riding momentum in the FA Cup, making for a big occasion at Wembley.
- Former Chelsea man Ampadu faces his old club. Now starting as the linchpin of Leeds' midfield, the 25-year-old Wales international midfielder captained the side as a key figure in last season's Championship title win. A Chelsea youth product who blossomed at Leeds after many loan spells, how he shuts down his old club's attack holds the key to the match.
- Japan international midfielder Ao Tanaka starts on the bench. The 27-year-old playmaker, named Leeds' Player of the Year for 2024-25 and boasting a pass-completion rate over 90%, waits as a second-half trump card. Should the game need changing, Tanaka's accurate distribution and ability to control the match could well sway the semi-final.
- Chelsea set up in a 4-2-3-1 and Leeds in a 3-4-2-1, so the battle for midfield control intensifies. Chelsea field the double pivot of Enzo Fernandez and Lavia, with Garnacho in the hole. Leeds, meanwhile, have the pairing of Ampadu and Ao Tanaka dominate midfield, with Okafor and Aaronson as two shadows supporting the front line and creating the attacking spark.
- Chelsea's Joao Pedro is a 24-year-old Brazilian forward who joined from Brighton this season for 60 million pounds. With a soft touch and clever positioning as his hallmarks, he has already scored four goals in the FA Cup. Leeds' Calvert-Lewin, by contrast, is a 30-year-old England forward regaining form since returning to Leeds, whose aerial strength and physical breaks are a threat.
- The surprise call is that Chelsea's No.10 Cole Palmer starts on the bench. The 23-year-old England international, who scored 22 goals in his debut season last term and remains a key man this season, is likely to be introduced reading the flow of the game. With accurate shooting and through-balls from his left foot as weapons, Palmer would have a strong chance of breaking the deadlock if introduced in the second half.
- The two teams' FA Cup paths are contrasting. Chelsea have shown overwhelming attacking force with 20 goals and three conceded in four matches, including a 7-0 rout of Port Vale in the quarter-final. Leeds, on the other hand, have advanced by winning two penalty shootouts, with their resilience shining through in beating both Birmingham and West Ham on penalties after extra time.