Preview: Cardiff City vs Norwich City - prediction, team news, lineups

Norwich City will travel to the Welsh capital for Tuesday’s all-Championship EFL Cup tie against Cardiff City.

The Bluebirds saw off fourth-tier Swindon Town in the first round, while the Canaries cruised past League One side MK Dons.

Match preview

Cardiff have made an unbeaten start to the season, beating Swindon Town 3-2 in the EFL Cup before drawing their opening two matches of the Championship campaign.

Rubin Colwill netted a 98th-minute equaliser to rescue a draw against Wrexham in Cardiff's first game back in the second tier.

While that result may have felt like a victory, Brian Barry-Murphy's side would have been frustrated with Saturday's 2-2 away draw against Derby County, which saw them spurn a lead on two separate occasions.

Cardiff are now focusing on EFL Cup matters, with the Bluebirds hoping to produce a similar run to the one that saw them reach the quarter-final stage last term.

A return of two wins from their last six meetings with Norwich suggests that the Bluebirds will have their work cut out to avoid a round-two exit for the second time in three seasons.

That said, both of those victories took place on home turf, including a 2-1 success in their most recent encounter at Cardiff City Stadium in November 2024.

Norwich started the campaign with an emphatic 4-1 victory over MK Dons, which saw them net three goals without reply in a dominant first-half display.

However, they have been unable to build upon that result in their opening two games of the Championship season, beginning with a controversial 2-1 defeat against West Bromwich Albion that made headlines for Aune Heggebo’s handball goal.

Philippe Clement’s side were then comfortably beaten in Saturday’s disappointing 3-0 defeat against Millwall at The Den.

After conceding twice, Norwich’s hopes of a fightback were effectively ended by Jose Cordoba’s red card before they shipped a third in the latter stages of a forgettable trip to the capital.

They will now turn their attention back to EFL Cup action, with the visitors aiming to reach the third round for the first time since the 2023-24 season.

The Canaries have won four of their previous five competitive games against Cardiff (L1), scoring at least three goals in three of those victories.

Cardiff City EFL Cup form:

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

Norwich City EFL Cup form:

Norwich City form (all competitions):

Team News

Cardiff remain without the services of defender Will Fish, who will be out until November with a hernia injury.

Calum Chambers, Dylan Lawlor and Gabriel Osho are also likely to miss out due to their respective injury issues.

Barry-Murphy may freshen up his side for the midweek cup tie, with Harry Tyrer, David Turnbull, Joel Colwill and Callum Robinson among those who could come into the starting lineup.

As for the visitors, Norwich winger Ali Ahmed is at risk of missing the entire season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in training.

Lucien Mahovo, Liam Gibbs, Jovon Makama and Ante Crnac are also likely to miss the midweek trip to the Keepmoat Stadium.

Cordoba will serve a one-match suspension after being sent off for two bookable offences in Saturday’s defeat against Millwall.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Tyrer; Kpakio, Ng, Bagan, Scanlon; Robertson, Turnbull; Willock, J. Colwill, Davies; Robinson

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Stacey, Darling, McConville, Chrisene; Mattsson, McLean; Musaba, Ben Slimane, Diallo; Toure