Middlesbrough v Chelsea Preview

After hard-fought draws at Arsenal and Manchester City, Middlesbrough will hope to continue their good run of form when the welcome high-flying Chelsea to the Riverside this weekend.

The Blues have looked unstoppable in recent weeks, and a run of five victories in a row has seen Antonio Conte’s side catapult up to second in the table.

Chelsea’s revival, following a difficult start to the campaign, has come ever since their manager made the switch to his favoured 3-4-3 formation.

Since then the Blues have scored 16 goals in the league and haven’t conceded.

In his pre-match press conference Boro boss Aitor Karanka admitted that Chelsea are one of the favourites for this season’s Premier League title but remained confident about his own team’s abilities.

"I have always said the main thing for me is the performances, “said the Spaniard.

"But the best way to add confidence is to add points on the table. It's not easy to get points away at teams like Arsenal and Manchester City. We have shown we can compete against anyone."

Team News

Boro defender George Friend is a doubt after suffering a knee injury in training this week. That could allow left back Fabio to make his first league start since signing for Boro in the summer.

Karanka also confirmed that Daniel Ayala will miss the game with an ankle injury, however Gaston Ramirez is available again after serving a one-game suspension.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says he has a fully-fit squad this weekend. Eden Hazard and Diego Costa both picked up knocks over the international break but have recovered according to their boss.

The Opposition

Conte was awarded manager of the month in October after an extraordinary turnaround which has seen the Blues rise to second in the table.

Chelsea were blown away by Arsenal at the end of September and there were even reports that Conte’s job was on the line after the 3-0 defeat.

That prompted the Italian to change his formation and since then the Blues have never looked back.

Following the switch to a robust 3-4-3 system, Chelsea have beaten Manchester United 4-0 and then put five past Everton without reply before the international break.

The key has been their wing-backs, with summer-signing Marcos Alonso and the revived Victor Moses giving licence for Chelsea’s attacking players to express themselves in the final third.

The extra body at the back has given protection to the, at times, vulnerable David Luiz, while N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matić provide energy in the middles of the park.

It’s a formation which has also got the best out of Hazard and Costa. The latter has been involved in more goals than anyone this season, with nine goals and three assists.

One To Watch

Diego Costa

The Spanish striker missed his country’s games against Macedonia and England with a knock but Conte has confirmed that he will be available to play against Boro this weekend.

Costa has rediscovered his form since Conte’s arrival and Chelsea’s change of formation following the defeat to Arsenal in September.

The new system has allowed the likes of Hazard and Pedro to support Costa, who has been in devastating form in recent weeks.

Last Time Out

Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 2 – 27/2/2013

The fifth-round FA Cup tie was overshadowed by Rafa Benítez’s outburst at the Chelsea fans, who hadn’t welcomed their interim manager due to the Spaniard’s history at Liverpool.

Benítez confirmed he wouldn’t stay on as manager after the Blues’ 2-0 victory at the Riverside, following goals from Fernando Torres and Victor Moses.

After keeping the visitors at bay in the first half, Boro fell behind in the 50^th minutes when Ramires’s shot deflected in off Torres’ back.

On 72 minutes Moses put the game beyond any doubt when he converted Oscar’s cut back.

Team I Would Play

(Picture from Gazette Boro)

If Friend is injured then Fabio should come in at left back.

I think Boro have to play the system that got them results at Arsenal and Manchester City, with the three central midfielders of Adam Clayton, Adam Forshaw and Marten De Roon.

Adama Traore and Gaston Ramirez should provide an outlet on the break.