Can Rafa rumble United’s double dream with FA Cup success?

Chelsea and Manchester United will go into a high-noon battle on Easter Monday in the race to book a place in the FA Cup semi-final, and a date at Wembley.

The two rivals will lock horns for a fourth time this season, having also met in the League Cup and once in the League so far, with the London side having the advantage in cup competitions this term, with Rafa Benitez’s Chelsea team having defeated the 11-time FA Cup winners 5-4 on penalties in the League Cup back in October.

A man-of-the-match performance from Juan Mata was instrumental in the current holder’s remarkable comeback a week ago, with the Spaniard inches away from scoring the decisive winning goal late on in the original tie, but was thwarted by the outstretched right boot of David De Gea.

Mata is backing his side to book their place at Wembley, commenting last week “We have a replay at home and we are a strong team at home and we’ll try to go through”, and the midfielder’s prediction may well be spot on. Games between these sides are traditionally packed with end-to-end action and the three meetings this term have produced in excess of 3.5 goals on each occasion.

Added to that, six of Chelsea’s last ten games in all competitions have produced an even number of goals. United have recorded an even number of goals in five of their last ten outings suggesting that an even number of goals in the match is the most likely outcome.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing