carabao best bets

Tuesday best bets: Carabao Cup tips for 25 August 2026



Football betting tips: Carabao Cup

19:45 – Barnsley vs Crewe

0.5pt Mickey Demetriou to score anytime at 10/1 (General)

19:45 – Cambridge vs Millwall

1pt Luke Cundle to score anytime at 15/2 (Sky Bet)

Goalscorer Trixie (19:45)

1pt (Total stake) Demetriou, Cundle and Ryan One to score anytime at 243/1 (William Hill)

20:00 Nottingham Forest vs Leeds

1pt Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score at 5/4 (General)

0.5pt Murillo to score from outside the box at 66/1 (bet365)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair

https://media.betfair.com/redirect.aspx?pid=17888340&lpid=159&bid=1615

Anytime Goalscorer Trixie

The second round of the Carabao Cup comes in between the second and third round of EFL league fixtures.

Team selection from the first two gameweeks have revealed the managers' favourites, so this week will be an opportunity for those on the periphery to stake their claim.

It’s a situation which suggests Tuesday night's action could be goalsy so I’ve taken the opportunity to take a punt on some GOALSCORERS combining in a Trixie generally priced at over 200/1.

Keep an eye out on team news though as some of these picks aren’t guaranteed starters.

Crewe centre back Mickey Demetriou
Crewe centre back Mickey Demetriou

The first leg is Crewe’s centre back MICKEY DEMETRIOU TO SCORE ANYTIME at 10/1 as his side take on Barnsley. On one hand that looks skinny for a centre back to score, but some firms have him at 5s.

Anyway, he’s served his one match suspension after picking up a red card against Crawley and should return to the heart of defence at Oakwell.

He has a career goals per 90 average of 0.08 which has risen above 0.10 in four of his last 10 campaigns, during which time he has netted four or more league goals in six separate seasons.

Demetriou’s had a shot in each of his two starts this season and will be fancying his chances of scoring in his seventh consecutive campaign on Tuesday evening.

The hosts conceded 1.13 xG from set plays in the first round of this competition and 0.45 across their two league games. It's why the 10s available is worth half a point as a single.

The second selection of the Trixie comes from Cambridge’s clash with Millwall where LUKE CUNDLE appeals at 15/2 TO SCORE ANYTIME.

He’s already got two for the campaign, one coming in the first round of this competition, and averaged 0.34 goals per 90 in the Championship last season.

Considering this, Cundle’s worth a go as a single as well against a U's side without a clean sheet in three games.

The final selection is RYAN ONE at 3/1 in the game between Blackburn and Sheffield United, completing the ANYTIME GOALSCORER TRIXIE at a smidge over 240/1.

He tweaked his hamstring against Birmingham. He made an immediate impact and the niggle wasn’t something Chris Wilder deemed serious enough to substitute him so One should be fit enough to feature here.

He looks like he’ll be playing second fiddle to Patrick Bamford this campaign, One is yet to start, but averaged 0.70 goals per 90 in League One for Lincoln last term.


Nottingham Forest vs Leeds

Backing OVER 2.5 GOALS AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE at odds against looks the most sensible way into this all Premier League affair between Nottingham Forest and Leeds.

These two squared off on Saturday at the City Ground in the league where it was the hosts who won the shot and expected goals count, and in all honesty a draw was probably a fair result. But Leeds nicked it late via an Anton Stach free-kick which Matz Sels perhaps should have done better with.

At Sporting Life HQ, we fancy both these clubs to go well in the league this season but survival remains the first milestone for both, which could see the pair of managers take a relaxed view of this competition at this stage.

Last season, Leeds were knocked out at this stage of this competition by Sheffield Wednesday on penalties after drawing 1-1 in 90 minutes. This bet clicked in Leeds’ FA Cup third round game as well.

Forest also fell at their first huddle of the League Cup last season, losing a five-goal-thriller to Championship side Swansea. They were also knocked out of the FA Cup third round after drawing 3-3 with Wrexham.

Current Forest boss Oliver Glasner was at Crystal Palace last season and his former club made it to the quarters before losing to Arsenal on penalties, so he should take this seriously this term which could see MURILLO start in central defence.

Murillo

Nine of his 16 shots in all competitions came from range last season, as did one of his two goals, the season before it was half of his 28 efforts and in 23/24 six of his 17 attempts.

At 66/1, backing him TO SCORE FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX appeals.


Odds correct at 16:30 BST (24/08/26)

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