Chelsea v Southampton FA Cup Betting Tips: The Set Odds' Big Match Preview

It’s been a difficult season in the Premier League for both Chelsea and Southampton, for different reasons, so they will be hoping to forget about that for a weekend and book a place in the FA Cup final.

On paper, Chelsea have the best resources with which to do so, and should really get one over on their former player Mark Hughes, whose Saints revolution hasn’t really got going yet, when they do battle in the second FA Cup semi-final at Wembley at 3pm on Sunday.

Saints went 2-0 up when these sides met on the south coast last weekend but they were stunned by three Chelsea goals in eight minutes, two coming from super-sub Olivier Giroud, and went down 3-2.

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Antonio Conte will have to make do without Marcos Alonso, who will serve the second of his three-game ban for violent conduct for stamping on Southampton’s Shane Long in that game, and midfielder Danny Drinkwater is a doubt with a groin issue.

David Luiz (knee) and Ethan Ampadu (ankle) will both miss out.

Mario Lemina and Sofiane Boufal are both doubts for the Saints, and Jack Stephens will serve the final match of his three-game suspension.

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Betting Focus

Chelsea are around 1/2 in most places, which doesn’t really appeal that much.

They’ve been far from convincing this season and anything can happen in a Wembley showcase, but they do have the big-name players to see them through to the final.

I cannot imagine Hughes will attack Chelsea too much early on, so I fancy it to be a draw at half-time and the Blues’ quality to prevail in the second half at 10/3.

Giroud started the midweek win at Burnley for the Blues and looks like he could do so in the semi after his brace against the Saints last weekend, so he appeals at 9/2 to open the scoring.

If he doesn’t start then I’ll be putting my bunce on big-game player Willian to do the job at 6/1 with Betfair (bet HERE). Hazard at 3/1 is far too skinny for me.