The Carabao Cup’s third round is coming up next month, and there have been significant changes to the competition’s rules.
Manchester United and Manchester City won’t be able to clash in the third round of the Carabao Cup this season due to new regulations. Clubs involved in European competitions are now prevented from facing each other in the third-round draw, owing to the congested fixture schedule.
The third round will span two midweeks to accommodate the extended European group stages. As a result, teams competing in the Champions League (like City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa) won’t be drawn against Europa League participants (such as United and Tottenham) in this round.
Manchester United’s third-round fixture is set for the week starting September 16, with a busy schedule ahead that includes a Premier League match against Crystal Palace on September 21 and their first Europa League game on September 26.
Manchester City, participating in the Champions League, will play their opening match in that competition on September 17 or 18. Following that, they face Arsenal in the Premier League on September 22 and will have their Carabao Cup tie in the week commencing September 23.
The draw for the third round will take place after Nottingham Forest’s match against Newcastle at the City Ground on Wednesday. The competition has also scrapped its regional format from the third round onward, meaning northern and southern ties are no longer a factor.
United, who claimed the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Newcastle in 2023, and City, who have lifted the trophy four times under Pep Guardiola, will be eagerly watching to see who they draw next.
