Leicester City are all set to welcome QPR at the King Power Stadium on Saturday in a third-round clash in the FA Cup.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is gearing up for his first knockout fixture as Leicester City boss as they prepare to host Championship outfit QPR. The two teams are all set to face each other for the first time in 38 years in this prestigious competition.
Leicester City will be fighting for survival in the English top flight as they are 19th on the points table at the halfway mark. While van Nisterlrooy did guide them to a win in his first week in charge, he has not tasted any success since that win against West Ham United.
The Foxes are heading into this fixture on the back of five straight defeats, and they will be eager to bring that losing streak to an end against QPR. The visitors are 13th in the Championship as they have been a touch inconsistent throughout. But, having won both their league games since the start of 2025, QPR will be confident of creating an upset against the struggling Leicester team.
Last time when the two teams met in the FA Cup back in 1987, QPR thrashed Leicester City 5-2, and they will be hoping for a similar result. But, it won’t be that easy. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Leicester City
Jannik Vestergaard was subbed off at the 60th-minute mark because of an injury, and he is unlikely to be available for this fixture. Meanwhile, the Foxes remain without the services of Ricardo Perreira, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Mads Hermansen, and Wilfred Ndidi. Victor Kristiansen and Kasey McAteer have a race against time to be fit for this one.
Leicester City will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against QPR, with Daniel Iversen featuring between the sticks. James Justin will be the right-back, while Victor Kristiansen should continue on the left flank if he is fully fit. Meanwhile, Wout Faes will start at the heart of the defence alongside Caleb Okoli.
As for the midfield unit, Oliver Skipp and Boubakary Soumare will form the double pivot in the middle of the park. The midfield duo will look to control the tempo of the game.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Stephy Mavididi will feature on the flanks. The pair will look to provide width to their attacks while Facundo Buonanotte will be the attacking midfielder. Meanwhile, Patson Daka will be the number nine for the home team.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Iversen; Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Skipp, Soumare; Decordova-Reid, Buonanotte, Mavididi; Daka
QPR
For the visitors, Paul Smyth is the latest injury concern as he was subbed off in their last outing. QPR remain without the services of Zan Celar and Karamoko Dembele. However, apart from the trio, everyone else is expected to be available for selection.
Marti Cifuentes could go ahead with a strong side as they have a significant rest period after this fixture. QPR will also line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Joe Walsh will take charge in goal. Harrison Ashby will be the right-back, while Kenneth Paal will feature on the left flank. In the heart of the defence, Jimmy Dunne will partner with Morgan Fox.
As for the midfield unit, Jonathan Varane and Sam Field will form the double pivot in the middle of the park. They will look to shield the backline and ensure Leicester midfielders do not end up dominating the proceedings.
Kieran Morgan will be the attacking midfielder, while Koki Saito and Ilias Chair will feature on the flanks, providing the width to their attacks. Michael Frey should be the one leading the line for QPR against Leicester City.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Walsh; Ashby, Dunne, Fox, Paal; Field, Varane; Saito, Morgan, Chair; Frey
Key Stats
- Both teams have faced each other 61 times in all competitions, the Rangers have 27 wins while the Foxes have come out on top on 24 occasions.
- Leicester and QPR last faced each other in the FA Cup back in 1987 where the visitors won 5-2.
- The two teams last met during the EFL Championship 2023/24 season with both teams recording a 2-1 away win.
- Leicester are heading into this fixture on the back of five straight defeats.
- QPR have only suffered one defeat in their last 11 games.
Player to Watch
Patson Daka
Daka did not have the best of starts to the season as he was out injured for several weeks. Since returning to the mix, the Zambian international has been involved in eight matches, and he has racked up just over 200 minutes of first-team action. With just one goal to his name so far, the 26-year-old will be eager to make it count when he takes the field against QPR.
Prediction
Leicester City 2-1 QPR
Leicester City have a poor record heading into this fixture, having lost each of their last five games, while QPR have only suffered one defeat in their last 11 games. The recent record suggests the Foxes could have a tough time against the Championship outfit.
However, given the kind of quality they have in their squad, the home team could secure a hard-fought win here. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Leicester City.
