The Carabao Cup is a competition that often throws up exciting matchups, especially when top Premier League teams enter the fray in the third round.
This year, both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are among the teams set to join the competition at this stage, with the draw scheduled to take place following Nottingham Forest’s clash against Newcastle United at The City Ground on Wednesday.
However, one significant change in this year’s Carabao Cup is that Arsenal and Tottenham, along with other Premier League teams involved in European competitions, will be unable to play against each other in the third round. This adjustment has been made due to the expanded schedules of the Champions League and Europa League, which now include two additional matches, adding further pressure to an already congested fixture list.
The Champions League and Europa League expansions have had a direct impact on the scheduling of domestic cup competitions like the Carabao Cup. Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester United, all of whom are competing in either the Champions League or the Europa League, will have their Carabao Cup third-round fixtures moved to avoid clashes with their European commitments. Interestingly, Chelsea, despite their involvement in European competition, are not affected by this new format due to the timing of their fixtures.
The Carabao Cup third round is set to take place during the weeks beginning September 16 and September 23. For Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa, who are all competing in the Champions League, their Carabao Cup ties will be scheduled for the week of September 16. Meanwhile, Tottenham and Manchester United, who are participating in the Europa League, will have their Carabao Cup fixtures moved to the week beginning September 23.
The primary reason for ensuring that clubs involved in European competitions do not face each other in the third round of the Carabao Cup is to prevent fixture congestion and potential scheduling conflicts. With the Champions League and Europa League group stages demanding considerable attention from these clubs, the Carabao Cup organizers have opted to separate the fixtures of these teams to ensure they do not clash. This decision is also intended to allow teams the necessary recovery and preparation time between domestic and European matches, which is crucial for maintaining the quality of play and player welfare.
As a result, 32 teams will be in the draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup, including the 25 winners from the second round and the seven Premier League clubs that are competing in European competitions. The draw will be conducted in a way that takes into account the scheduling needs of the teams involved in Europe. Specifically, the draw will be structured into two bowls: Bowl 1, which will contain the six clubs competing in the Champions League or Europa League, and Bowl 2, which will include Chelsea (should they progress past Servette in the Europa Conference League) along with the 25 second-round winners.
Before the main draw, a pre-draw is expected to take place to determine the home and away positioning of the six clubs in Bowl 1 for the first six ties of the main draw. This pre-draw ensures that the fixture list can be managed effectively without causing conflicts with European games. Following this pre-draw, the main draw will proceed, with one team from Bowl 1 being paired with one team from Bowl 2 for the first six ties. Once all the ties involving clubs from Bowl 1 have been drawn, the remaining 10 matches will be drawn from Bowl 2 alone, ensuring that the draw remains balanced and fair.
Unlike the first and second rounds of the Carabao Cup, where the draw is divided into northern and southern sections to reduce travel distances for teams, the third-round draw is not regionally split. This decision adds an extra element of unpredictability to the competition, as teams could potentially face opponents from any part of the country, leading to more intriguing and diverse matchups.
For Chelsea, the situation is slightly different. If they manage to progress past Servette on Thursday, they will enter the Europa Conference League group stage, which does not begin until October. As a result, Chelsea’s involvement in the Carabao Cup third round will not be affected by the new scheduling rules, allowing them to be drawn in the same manner as the other 25 second-round winners.
This new format adds an extra layer of complexity to the Carabao Cup this season. While it may be disappointing for fans hoping for an early North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, the changes have been made with the best interests of the clubs and players in mind. By ensuring that teams competing in Europe do not face each other in the Carabao Cup third round, the organizers aim to minimize fixture congestion and give these clubs the best possible chance to succeed both domestically and on the European stage.
As the third-round draw approaches, fans of Arsenal, Tottenham, and the other clubs involved in European competitions will be eagerly awaiting the outcome to see who their teams will face. With the Carabao Cup often producing memorable moments and giant-killing upsets, the third round promises to deliver plenty of excitement and drama as the competition heats up.
