Carabao Cup giant killers: The three teams who could cause a shock

Toby Coxon

Carabao Cup giant killers: The three teams who could cause a shock image

Reprodução X/Manchester United

The Carabao Cup is back, and with it, the potential for a classic giant killing.

The competition, which pits Premier League giants against lower-league minnows, has a rich history of producing shocking results, and the third round is set to be no different.

With a number of Premier League teams already out of the competition, the stage is set for a few more upsets this week.

This article will highlight three teams from the lower leagues who are in a position to cause a shock and give their Premier League opponents a tough test in the Carabao Cup.

The three teams to watch out for

Lincoln City (vs Chelsea)

Lincoln City, who are flying high in League One, will be looking to cause a major upset against a Chelsea side that has had a difficult start to the season.

The Imps have a number of key players who are in fine form, and their home stadium, the LNER Stadium, will be a difficult place for the Blues to play.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has admitted he is worried about the match, and he will have to be prepared for a tough test.

Enzo Maresca

Getty

Bradford City (vs Newcastle United)

The League One leaders, Bradford City, will be looking to cause a major upset against the holders, Newcastle United.

The Bantams, under manager Graham Alexander, have already beaten two Championship teams in the competition and will be full of confidence heading into the match.

Bradford will be a tough test for Newcastle, who will be expected to win but may be distracted by the Champions League.

Huddersfield Town (vs Manchester City)

Huddersfield Town, a team that has already beaten Premier League side Sunderland in the competition, will be looking to cause a major upset against Manchester City.

The Terriers will be a tough test for City, who are juggling this tie between Premier League and Champions League fixtures, but will be eager to progress in a tournament they have not won since 2021.

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Toby Coxon

Toby joined The Sporting News in 2025 after completing a degree in Multimedia Sports Journalism. He has previous experience writing for online and print publications including VAVEL, Breaking Media and The Non-League Paper. He also has experience working within football clubs in previous roles at Curzon Ashton FC and Bradford City AFC.