Wrexham and Cardiff renew old Welsh rivalry in League Cup

Tuesday evening at the Racecourse Ground promises fireworks as Wrexham host Cardiff City in a long-awaited renewal of one of Welsh football's oldest rivalries. 

The League Cup fourth-round tie is more than just a battle for progression, a decades-old clash fuelled by pride, history and ambition based on Wales' traditional north-south divide, with Wrexham in the north, and the capital Cardiff in the south. 

The teams have met over 40 times, with Cardiff winning 19 games to Wrexham's nine and eight draws, but this will their first competitive match for 21 years.

Adding to the storyline is the contrasting fortunes of the clubs, with Wrexham, the birthplace of Welsh football, on a big upward trajectory having climbed to the Championship from non-league football in three seasons under the ownership of Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Cardiff played in the Premier League, something Wrexham are dreaming of doing, in 2018-19, but after six seasons in the Championship the were relegated to League One this year.

WREXHAM ON A GOOD RUN

Wrexham are riding a wave of momentum, with only two losses in their last 12 games across all competitions. They dispatched Hull City, Preston North End and Reading to reach the fourth round of the League Cup for the first time since 1977. 

"I'm really looking forward to that one," Wrexham defender Dan Scarr told the BBC. "There's been a few conversations about it already and we've had one eye on it.

"The fans are going to be behind us for that one. The lads are already buzzing for it. Hopefully we can get the ground rocking and get through to the next round."

Cardiff's path to the fourth round featured wins over Swindon, Cheltenham, and Premier League Burnley. They have won four of their