Gary Rose
BBC Sport at Riverside Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

The atmosphere was incredible here when Middlesbrough knocked out Tottenham in the last round and it is bouncing once again.

It is a sell out, with the only empty seats the ones Chelsea were unable to sell in the away end but the several hundred Blues fans, top left in the above picture, are giving as good as they can.

A proper FA Cup atmosphere.

Jonathan Woodgate
Former England defender on BBC One

Thomas Tuchel has handled the situation superbly well.

He has never ducked a question, it's been refreshing to see what he has done. He has handled it with real dignity.

He's a top, top manager put in a really difficult situation, but he has spoken so well.

Romelu Lukaku has scored 15 FA Cup goals since his first appearance in 2012 - including the winner in the last round against Luton.

The only players with better records since then are Sergio Aguero (20), Harry Kane and Olivier Giroud (16 each).

He's never won the competition though.

Image source, PA Media

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Jonathan Woodgate
Former England defender on BBC One

For Middlesbrough to beat Chelsea would be some performance. I think every single player would have to play at nine out of 10. They did that against Man Utd, they did it against Spurs. Chelsea are a different animal altogether. They've been an outstanding team in the Champions League this season, they're third in the Premier League, this'll be a tough test.

Chelsea have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the 16th time in 22 seasons this century - more than any other side in this period.

They have lost only three of the other 15.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC One

Middlesbrough have won nine on the spin here so Chelsea know they're in for a really tough game. They'll have watched the way they beat Spurs and Man United, and Thomas Tuchel has named a strong team. He knows it's going to be very difficult for Chelsea today.

Middlesbrough are donating their share of today's gate receipts to humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport at Riverside Stadium

We're all familiar with VAR in the Premier League of course but this afternoon we'll see it in action at a Championship ground, with VAR confirmed for all FA Cup quarter-finals.

Boro boss Chris Wilder never appeared, external to be the technology's biggest fan when he was managing in the Premier League with Sheffield United, so it will be interesting to see what, if any, impact it has in this game.

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Middlesbrough

Image source, .

Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder says he has no sympathy for Chelsea's financial situation.

"The club is not in jeopardy, is it?" said Wilder.

"It's not a situation like a Macclesfield or a Bury in the football pyramid.

"It will go up for sale and it will be bought by a billionaire, who will possibly invest more money into it, so I don't think there is - in the football world - an incredible amount of sympathy over what's happening."

On Chelsea's request to have the game played in an empty stadium, WIlder said: "It was certainly a decision that was met universally with displeasure. It was baffling."

Boro are vying to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2006, when they beat Charlton 4-2 at home in the quarter-finals.

They have lost their last four quarter-finals (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2017).

Having eliminated Manchester United and Tottenham, Middlesbrough can become the first side outside the top flight to beat three Premier League teams in a single FA Cup campaign since Wigan in 2017-18.

Quiz

This is a repeat of the 1997 final which Chelsea won.

How much can you remember about that game at the old Wembley? Take our quiz here.

Josh Coburn's winning goal for Middlesbrough against Tottenham was been voted the best goal of the FA Cup fifth round.

Coburn, 19, scored the only goal as the Championship side eliminated Spurs in a match that went to extra time.

Chelsea have won 11 of their past 12 matches in all competitions, with the exception the EFL Cup final penalty shootout loss against Liverpool.

That run includes their 3-2 comeback win over Luton in the last round.

They have only lost twice in open play since September.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport at Riverside Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

“If not we go by train, if not we go by bus, if not, I'll drive a seven-seater."

That's what Thomas Tuchel said when he was asked about how the sanctions would affect Chelsea's plans to get to upcoming away games.

But as much as I'm sure we'd all love to see Thomas Tuchel behind the wheel of mini-bus shushing a rowdy Chelsea team in the seats behind him, travel plans have - so far - not been too heavily disrupted.

They managed to get to Lille in midweek for their Champions League tie and, despite suggestions they would face a 10-hour drive to Middlesbrough and back, they managed to get a tweak to their special license given by the government to be able to fund a flight there and back.

Chris Wilder
Middlesbrough boss on BBC Radio 5 Live

World-class players are used to going anywhere and putting performances in. [Chelsea] will have played in hostile environments. Thomas [Tuchel] said he doesn't want it to be hostile; I understand that, it won't be, but there will be a lot of emotion flying around. The support the players have had has been amazing; if we can give the fans something to shout about, that'll be amazing.

But look at the calibre of teams we've had to knock out; we were fortunate at Man Utd on penalties but not against Spurs. It was a fully deserved win. We've got to be at our maximum today; Chelsea, world champions, European champions, is maybe another level to the teams we've knocked out.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Image source, .

Chelsea's results have not been affected by everything that has happened to the club in the past couple of weeks and Blues boss Thomas Tuchel deserves huge credit for that - he has handled everything very well given the situation.

Even so, I'm not sure things are quite as dramatic as some reports in the media are making out - the Chelsea team have been allowed to fly north for this tie but at first their travel expenses were being capped and I was reading how they faced a "gruelling" five-hour bus trip, which is ridiculous. Have you seen the luxury coaches they travel on?

It is hardly the same sort of crisis that Middlesbrough faced in the mid-1980s when the gates of their old Ayresome Park ground were locked because of their mounting debts - that really is desperate stuff - but it has brought a reaction from the Chelsea players, and it is circle the wagons time for them.

That's why I fancy Tuchel's team to get through this tie, although it won't be easy.

Middlesbrough have had a brilliant time in the FA Cup so far, beating Manchester United and then Tottenham - but their run ends here.

Prediction: 1-2

Middlesbrough's last victory against Chelsea was a 2-1 home win on 23 August 2006.

Andriy Shevchenko scored his first Premier League goal in that match, but Boro hit back through late strikes from Emanuel Pogatetz and Mark Viduka.