Three more wins. That's all it's going to take for Chelsea in its last four matches to be able to declare itself as a champion. The Blues very likely will only be one point clear of Tottenham by the time they get on the pitch on Monday, but their fixture against soon-to-be relegated Middlesbrough shouldn't be all that difficult.
Don't miss the Barclays Premier League action from Stamford Bridge at 3 p.m. ET on Monday, May 8, 2017. Catch every moment of the match live on NBC Sports Network.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chelsea -666
Middlesbrough +1400
Draw +675
Over/Under 3.5
Odds Analysis
Chelsea is laying two full goals in this match, and the margin might be at 2.5 by the time we get to the opening kick on Monday. The Blues are easy -666 favorites on the moneyline, and it would be a brutal disappointment if they ultimately didn't get the job done against a team that is sure to be sent down.
It's not all set in stone yet for Boro, but anything less than a win here, and fate might be sealed. They're 14 to 1 longshots to come to Stamford Bridge and win, but hey, Crystal Palace did exactly the same thing a few weeks ago in a victory that might ultimately keep it away from relegation's doorstep for the rest of the season.
Key Injuries
David Luiz is one of Chelsea's key three at the back, and he just didn't look himself at the end of that match against Everton. Antonio Conte essentially forced him to stay on even though he was clearly dinged up, though when the match was out of hand, Luiz went to the bench for good. Will he be ready to go on Monday? The long week of prep will surely help him.
Grant Leadbitter is a good bet to return to the lineup for Boro against Chelsea after recovering from a hamstring problem. The news isn't quite as good for Daniel Ayala and Victor Valdes, both of whom are very much so up in the air.
Recent Form
Middlesbrough probably wasn't staying up in the Premier League anyway, but its 2-2 draw against Manchester City almost certainly should have been a win. The penalty awarded to the Citizens was nothing short of a horrific dive at Sane, and that robbed the relegation-stricken side of what could be two crucial points. That said, Boro at least now has two straight good results to fall back on, a 1-0 win at home against Sunderland and that draw versus Man City.
The task against Chelsea though, is about as tough as it gets. The Blues are responding well to a 2-0 loss to Manchester United from back on April 16, beating Southampton and Everton with ease in succession, results that were buoyed by a 4-2 victory over Tottenham in the semis of the FA Cup before it. Outside of the FA Cup Final against Arsenal, the challenges are up for Chelsea, as the rest of the way is nothing but teams that are nowhere near the Top 7.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
You've got to think that the pressure is going to be on the Blues here. They can't slip in this match. They just flat out can't.
But we aren't willing to lay two goals with them either. All too often this season, Chelsea has found a way to slog through matches and ultimately get the moment of brilliance somewhere along the way. That's very possibly how this is going to go as well. Remember that Boro is playing with a renewed confidence defensively and, for a team that is almost surely to face relegation, only has a -19 goal difference. Take the two goals.
Barclays Premier League Odds: Chelsea 1, Middlesbrough 0
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