Summary

  • Chelsea score twice in stoppage time to beat Leicester in thrilling FA Cup quarter-final

  • Foxes had come from 2-0 down to level through Mavididi & bizarre Disasi own goal

  • Cucurella & Palmer put Chelsea in command before half-time

  • Leicester defender Doyle sent off for denying goalscoring opportunity

  1. 'Leicester are focussed on getting it over the line'published at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
    Former Netherlands striker on BBC One

    On paper, Leicester are the best team in the Championship. For them, it is now about getting it over the line.

  2. Postpublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Alex Howell
    BBC Sport at Stamford Bridge

    Leicester midfielder Harry Winks and Chelsea assistant Jesus Perez just had an embrace on the pitch as Winks headed into the tunnel. They know each other well from their time at Tottenham.

  3. Postpublished at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    A lot of love for this man then. A rare bright spark for the Blues.

    Cole PalmerImage source, Getty Images
  4. 'Guston, Palmer and Gallagher Chelsea's best'published at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Pat Nevin
    Former Chelsea and Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Gusto, Palmer, Gallagher, those are the three best players Chelsea have had this season.

  5. 'Palmer has really high football intelligence'published at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
    Former Netherlands striker on BBC One

    Cole Palmer has got class, but his intelligence in football is really high. He is the future. He's in the squad, he's play absolutely magnificently for his club. There's a lot of talent in his position, but he's in the squad. When you play for the national team, it's another level and it's up to him.

  6. 'Palmer playing like he is in his pomp'published at 12:37 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Dion Dublin
    Former Man Utd striker on BBC One

    Cole Palmer is 21 years old, he plays like someone in his pomp at 28/29. His teammates are looking for him as the team's catalyst.

  7. Pick of the statspublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    • Chelsea have progressed from seven of their eight FA Cup ties against Leicester. The exception was a 1-0 defeat in their most recent meeting in the 2021 final.
    • Leicester have won just one of their past 13 away games against Chelsea, beating them 1-0 in the Premier League in December 2018.
    • Chelsea have won their past five FA Cup quarter-finals, since losing to Everton in 2015-16. The Blues have reached the semi-final of the competition in five of the past seven campaigns.
    • Raheem Sterling has scored four goals in his past two appearances against Leicester, including a double for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in August 2022 – his first goals for the Blues.
    • All seven of Leicester’s FA Cup goals this season have been scored by different players, with only six clubs having more scorers in the competition this season.
  8. 'We have ambitions to win'published at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino to BBC One: "We always need to provide the team the best to perform. Enzo is suspended, Rob coming back from injury little by little is good for the team. We are going to be very offensive, four offensive players with Mudryk. It's hard to find this balance but we have ambitions to win and get through a very exciting competition.

    How important is the FA Cup?: "It's very exciting for us. We need to improve our league position, we've had one final already this season and it's a great chance for us. It's not going to be easy, look at Coventry yesterday, that's why we're conscious what can happen.

    How important is this game for your season?: "We know we're Chelsea, we're one of the biggest clubs in the world. Patience isn't easy, the club are used to winning titles. I think we're starting to evolve really quick."

  9. Postpublished at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Keep your texts coming in!

    Steve, I'm totally with you, would love to see a non-Premier League side in the final.

    Al, I reckon so, especially away from home. At the King Power I reckon Leicester could take Chelsea to extra time.

    Ryan, injuries are an issue, yes, but when you spend as much money as Chelsea have, you expect the reserves to be pretty decent too.

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    I'm a Liverpool fan but I still like the idea of Leicester beating Chelsea (obvs) but then drawing Coventry to have a Championship team in the final. I know that means City v LFC (hopefully) but the romance of the FA Cup sort of demands it be so.

    Steve in Birmingham

    Are Leicester really proper underdogs in this tie? Chelsea are doing so badly this season there's still only 10 league places between them despite them being in different leagues!

    Al, Leicester

    Poch isn’t the problem. Losing all our world-class players. New players injured and are always compared to our illustrious history. Roll on next season and make a serious fight for the top 4. Just praying we can win today and have some sort of consolation!

    Ryan

  11. Watch: Leicester win FA Cup for first timepublished at 12:29 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Media caption,

    FA Cup Final highlights: Chelsea 0-1 Leicester City

  12. Postpublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    OK, turns out Leicester have been top since matchday eight, or mid-September to us calendar folk.

    But as I said that's not the focus today. Nope, today is all about repeating scenes like this...

  13. 'A good chance for Chelsea'published at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Dion Dublin
    Former Man Utd striker on BBC One

    I just think it's last chance saloon, it's a good chance for Chelsea. They've had a poor season, the club would expect a trophy every year. For them, it will be a case of 'let's do a professional job at home against a side we should be beating'.

  14. Postpublished at 12:26 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    This game has probably come at the right time for Leicester. A free hit to distract from their blip in the league.

    That said, depending on how Leeds do, the Foxes could be knocked off the top of the Championship table today.

    It feels like that'll be the first time since August. I can't remember a time when it didn't look like Leicester would be promoted as champions this season.

  15. All the jeopardy is with Chelsea - Fryattpublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Leicester Chelsea

    Former Leicester striker Matty Fryatt says there is a "massive amount of pressure" on their top-flight opposition, who struggled against Leeds United in the FA Cup fifth round: "It's going to be a great day," he told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast.

    "The thing is, there haven't been many times this season when Leicester have been the underdogs. So there's a massive amount of pressure on Chelsea - are they going to cope with that?

    "Obviously, they got to the League Cup final, but they couldn't quite get over the line. Maybe they missed a few chances, maybe there were a few blocks, but it would've been disappointing to not win it on the day.

    "This is their only other chance of doing something with the amount of spend they have had and the players they have brought in. So, it's all on them to go and perform. That could actually play into Leicester's favour.

    "They are a level above Bournemouth, but it's not one of those where you don't go into it with optimism. Leeds pushed them all the way in the last round as well, so I think there's plenty to look forward to.

    "All the jeopardy is with Chelsea, it's off Leicester for once. So hopefully they can go down there and cause somewhat of an upset."

    Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

  16. Watch live in the UKpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    BBC One

    Here we go, we're live on BBC One!

    Stick it on by clicking the play icon at the top of this page.

    Gary Lineker will take you through all the thrills and spills from Stamford Bridge.

  17. Postpublished at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Mauricio Pochettino. Yay or nay Chelsea fans?

  18. Does Pochettino have to beat Foxes?published at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown

    Mauricio Pochettino will be under massive pressure if Chelsea don’t beat Leicester this weekend in the FA Cup.

    He just can’t lose that game.

    Their league positioning means there are lots of question marks over this Chelsea team, in terms of what they’re known for and how they’re going to finish. They’ve got some unbelievable talent but they still haven’t found a way to be consistent, so questions will continue to get thrown at them.

    If they won a trophy it would obviously get him out of the predicament of the league position, but if this draw doesn’t go well then the pressure will increase.

    If the fans want to keep changing managers every two weeks then that’s their call, but ultimately the fans don’t know all of the things that are being worked out in a football club either.

    Mauricio PochettinoImage source, Getty Images
  19. Postpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    I know your pain Mauricio. I went to the shops this morning in the sunshine and returned in soaking rain, it nearly ruined my veg!

    That's the north west for you.

  20. Sometimes rain and sometimes sunny at Chelseapublished at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Chelsea v Leicester (12:45 GMT)

    Chelsea, who lasted lifted the FA Cup in 2018, have reached the final of the competition in five of the past seven seasons.

    This campaign they have struggled in the league, although they did reach the Carabao Cup final, losing to Liverpool after extra time.

    "It's a strange year. Sometimes the expectation is high and sometimes low," said Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino. "Sometimes rain and sometimes sunny.

    "The opportunity to be in Europe through the FA Cup would be massive.

    "But we see Leicester are doing very well in the Championship and the coach is doing fantastic. It will be a very tough game."