Palace
Palace have lost their last 3 games in all competitions, including a 4-1 home defeat by Manchester City in the Premier League and a 2-0 loss at Everton.
Middlesbrough
- Middlesbrough have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 5 matches, beating West Bromwich 3-1 at home prior to a 1-1 draw at Burnley.
- Middlesbrough are coming off the back of a win at West Bromwich and a draw with Burnley, so should be ready for this and head coach Kim Hellberg has found a good mix of structure and aggression to help them stay in games.
- Palace's last 10 in all competitions reads 4 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses, which does not scream cup run, but Boro's 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats across the same period indicates they are a tough opponent.
Key Players
Franca has been the driver for Palace of late, scoring 3 of their 5 goals across the last 5 games.
Betting Insights
- Middlesbrough may well be the better side to put up a fight in this Carabao Cup 2026-2027 third-round clash, but the Eagles still have the edge on the odds.
- Boro are 4.39 with the draw 3.45, which seems a bit rich, considering Palace are 1.8 to beat them at Selhurst Park.
Prediction
The Eagles may still have the upper hand, but Middlesbrough's form and structure should ensure this is a cup tie rather than a routine home win for Palace.