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Bradford City to face Aston Villa in Capital One Cup semi-final
Bradford's reward for knocking Arsenal out of the Capital One Cup is a semi-final against Aston Villa, while Chelsea will take on Swansea.
League Two Bradford will play the first leg of their semi-final at home against five-time winners Villa.
Chelsea, who thrashed Leeds 5-1 on Wednesday night to progress, will play their opening leg at Stamford Bridge.
The first matches will be played in the week starting 7 January and the second legs a fortnight later.
League Cup pedigree
- Aston Villa won the last of their five League Cups in 1996
- Chelsea have won it four times, including in 2005 and 2007
- Bradford and Swansea have never won the competition
The Bantams pulled off one of the biggest League Cup shocks by beating Premier League side Arsenal on penalties at Valley Parade last week.
Villa won 4-1 away at Norwich and are currently unbeaten in six matches in all competitions.
Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez is expecting a tough test against Swansea, who are 10th in the Premier League and drew 1-1 with the Blues in November.
"Swansea are a good team and we have to do well in a semi-final of any competition," said Benitez. "They like to play football on the floor and it will be interesting.
"Every competition is important for us; a top side has to try to win every competition and now we are in the semi-finals so we are close to winning."
Capital One Cup semi-final draw:
Chelsea v Swansea
Bradford v Aston Villa
Ties to be played weeks commencing 7 & 21 and January
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Comment number 135.
AndrewO21st December 2012 - 14:18
Interesting tie, but I think it will be Villa. They have a fast improving team and the sort of hunger for this competition that clubs like Man City and Arsenal lack. A tough couple of games (Bradford have nothin to lose), but I think Villa will be a little too strong, especially over two legs.
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Comment number 134.
Joan_Burton21st December 2012 - 3:49
Lambert is doing a great job at Villa. He has a plan. He is confident in what he is doing. We have seen a marked improvement in the performances of Villa from game to game. After the shambles of McLeish it's great to see organisation, structure, intent and hope once again in what is a big and important club with a proud and eventful history.
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Comment number 133.
martin20th December 2012 - 23:09
Well thats bradford through
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Comment number 132.
gavlar20th December 2012 - 22:01
as a lifelong bradford fan im just thrilled to be here , away at wigan was an unbeleivable defensive perfomance and even more so against arsenal,villa play southhampton 4 days after the home leg , i imagine lambert may rest his key players for that 6 pointer,so the home tie could be a bradford win,the away leg will be tough but with the traveliing city faithfull behind them then just maybe....
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Comment number 131.
Charlie20th December 2012 - 20:09
@81 - what does that say? It says that you are a bitter bluenose who should be more concerned with the, soon to arrive, fire sale of what little talent is remaining at St. Mongrels.
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Comments 5 of 135