Middlesbrough Carabao Cup first round draw as Boro handed huge away tie

Middlesbrough will kick off their Carabao Cup campaign with an tie with Championship promotion rivals Leeds United. Michael Carrick's side were drawn out of the hat against Daniel Farke's Whites in today's draw for the Northern sections of the first round.

The Teessiders found out their Championship fixtures on Wednesday, with the 2024-25 season getting under way against Swansea City at the Riverside on Saturday, August 10. That will now be followed by the Carabao Cup tie with Leeds with the first-round games scheduled for the week commencing Monday, August 12.

Boro then travel to Derby County on Saturday, August 17, with a home game against another newly-promoted Championship side Portsmouth on August 24. The opening month is now laid out for Michael Carrick and Co, with promotion the key goal this season. While a cup run would be welcome to help build momentum, Boro will not want too many distractions from their bid to reach the Premier League next season.

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The 13 Premier League clubs not involved in European competition enter at the second-round stage, along with Burnley and Luton Town, meaning Boro could land the likes of Newcastle United should they get through the first round.

Last season, Carrick's men went all the way to the semi-finals of the compeition which they famously won in 2004. They beat Huddersfield Town 3-2 in the first round, with victories over Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City, Exeter City and Port Vale set up a two-legged semi-final against Premier League Chelsea.

While Boro recorded a memorable first-leg win at the Riverside thanks to Hayden Hackney's goal, they lost 6-1 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg, with Mauricio Pochettino's side going on to lose 1-0 to Liverpool in the final at Wembley.

Carabao Cup first-round draw in full

Northern Section

• Salford City vs Doncaster Rovers

• Rotherham United vs Crewe Alexandra

• Carlisle United vs Stoke City

• Leeds United vs Middlesbrough

• Barrow United vs Port Vale

• Burton Albion vs Blackpool

• Tranmere Rovers vs Accrington Stanley

• Fleetwood Town vs West Bromwich Albion

• Shrewsbury Town vs Notts County

• Lincoln City vs Harrogate

• Derby County vs Chesterfield

• Bolton Wanderers vs Mansfield Town

• Preston North End vs Sunderland

• Sheffield United vs Wrexham

• Huddersfield Town vs Morecambe

• Wigan Athletic vs Barnsley

• Hull City vs Sheffield Wednesday

• Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers

• Grimsby Town vs Bradford City