Preview: Cambridge United vs Charlton Athletic – prediction, team news, lineups.

Charlton Athletic will be looking to advance to the third round of the EFL Cup when they face Cambridge United on Tuesday night.

The Addicks defeated Stevenage in the first round of the competition, while their opponents beat Bristol Rovers, and the home side will now be looking for a Championship scalp in the tournament.

Cambridge United is already five games into their 2025-26 League Two campaign, with seven points from five games, putting them in 13th place in the table.

The U’s were relegated from League One last season and are expected to be among the promotion contenders this season, but the club has had a relatively quiet start to the campaign.

Neil Harris’ side is coming off a 1-0 loss to Bristol Rovers, but they have gone unbeaten at home in the first two games of the season.

Cambridge United defeated Bristol Rovers 2-0 in the first round of the EFL Cup earlier this month, but this will be a significant step up in class, as the team prepares to face a Championship side.

The U’s have lost their last three meetings with Charlton in all competitions, including a 1-0 defeat in League One in April of this year.

 

Charlton has been unbeaten against Cambridge United since a Division Two clash in 1992, winning seven and drawing four of their 11 games in all competitions against the U’s.

The two teams faced off in League One last season, but they are now two divisions apart, with Charlton promoted to the Championship and Cambridge United relegated to League Two.

Charlton defeated Stevenage 3-1 at home to advance to the second round of the EFL Cup, and they have played three Championship games this season.

The Addicks started the season with a 1-0 win over Watford, but have since drawn with Bristol City and lost to Leicester City, leaving them 14th in the Championship table with four points.

 

Charlton has never won the League Cup, but they famously won the FA Cup in 1947, defeating Burnley in the competition’s final after losing to Derby County the year before.

Cambridge United’s EFL Cup form: W Cambridge United’s form (all competitions):

WLWDWL Charlton Athletic’s EFL Cup form: W Charlton Athletic’s form (all competitions): WWDL

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Team News

 

 

Harris, Cambridge United’s head coach, selected a strong starting lineup in the previous round of the competition, and he is expected to name a familiar XI here.

However, because Mamadou Jobe was sent off on Saturday, the home team will be without him, so Zeno Ibsen Rossi is expected to start from the start. Ben Knight and Ryan Loft may also be introduced to the team.

Charlton’s head coach Nathan Jones will make changes to the team that took the pitch for the first time against Leicester in the Championship on Saturday.

Tanto Olaofe will be introduced in the final third of the field, and Harvey Knibbs and Joe Rankin-Costello are also expected to start as the visitors shuffle their pack.

Ashley Maynard-Brewer will take over in goal for the EFL Cup second round match, replacing Thomas Kaminski.

Cambridge United’s possible starting lineup: Eastwood: Gibbons, Rossi, Watts, Bradshaw; McLoughlin, Mpanzu; Knight, Kachunga, Kaikai; Loft.

Charlton Athletic’s possible starting lineup: Maynard-Brewer; A Mitchell, Gillesphey, Z Mitchell;

Rylah, Anderson, Knibbs, Rankin-Costello, Fullah; Olaofe and Leaburn

 

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:

 

Eastwood; Gibbons, Rossi, Watts, Bradshaw; McLoughlin, Mpanzu; Knight, Kachunga, Kaikai; Loft

 

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:

 

Maynard-Brewer; A Mitchell, Gillesphey, Z Mitchell; Rylah, Anderson, Knibbs, Rankin-Costello, Fullah; Olaofe, Leaburn.

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