Leicester City will be keen to keep up their perfect start to the Championship season when they take on Cardiff City this weekend.
Leicester City have won both of their opening two games in the EFL Championship and will be keen to keep the winning run going when they welcome Cardiff City to the King Power Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Foxes are currently second in the league standings, only behind early trendsetters Ipswich Town on goal difference. Enzo Maresca has a strong squad at his disposal and will be keen to secure a return to the Premier League on the first time of asking.
In fact, it can be argued that Leicester are ahead of both Leeds United and Southampton in terms of being in a good spot to secure promotion. However, Cardiff have already given a tough fight to Leeds, securing a 2-2 draw at Elland Road and should prove to be dogged opponents at the King Power.
Erol Bulut is proving his worth as an exciting new manager in the English game, and Cardiff could spring a surprise or two under his stewardship this season. However, their lack of consistency is a concern and could prove to be their undoing this season.
Cardiff followed up the draw at Leeds with a EFL Cup win over Colchester on penalties before falling to a home defeat to Queens Park Rangers last weekend. This leaves them with just one point from the opening two games, a rather poor return given their good performances in both games.
The trip to the King Power is an opportunity for Cardiff to get their season on track. They have won their last two away trips to Leicester and repeating that trick this weekend will certainly boost confidence within the squad.
Maresca has arguably the best team in the league on paper and will certainly go into the game as favourites. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up against each other and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Leicester City
Home on Saturday 😃#LEICAR pic.twitter.com/NJTtb87jfq
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 17, 2023
Following their humiliating 2022/23 campaign that culminated in relegation, Leicester City are a side seeking to return to the riches and glory of the Premier League. They are one of the two sides to have a hundred percent record in this season’s Championship so far and are building up momentum to what could be a memorable season.
Enzo Maresca’s stint at the King Power is miles away from the guts and glory he experienced at Manchester City. But his teachings appear to be getting through to the players, and the Foxes boss could carve himself a solid reputation by taking the club back to the top flight.
He will be boosted on the night given the return of Mads Hermansen and Victor Kristiansen from injury. Chelsea loanee Cesare Casadei is also available and could be in line to make his Foxes debut. Meanwhile, Conor Coady and Alex Smithies will both miss out due to injuries.
A 4-3-3 appears to be the flavour of the night and the formation should give the Foxes options to adapt and restructure should the situation deem it so. Hermansen should return to the starting XI behind the back four of Ricardo Pereira, Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard and Callum Doyle.
The midfield three of the Foxes is likely to be anchored by Wilfred Ndidi, while Harry Winks and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will aim to get the ball forward to the attackers. Cesare Casadei is expected to start on the bench and come on to make his debut in the second half.
Stephy Mavididi and Wanya Marcal-Madivadua should provide the width upfront with Kelechi Iheanacho likely to lead the line. Veteran striker Jamie Vardy and youngster Patson Daka will have to settle for a spot on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Hermansen; Pereira, Vestergaard, Faes, Doyle; Winks, Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall; Mavididi, Iheanacho, Marcal-Madivadua
Cardiff City
Erol Bulut’s men left Elland Road stunned when they took a 2-0 lead in the first half of their opener. Unfortunately, they were unable to hold on and had to settle for a share of the spoils. Cardiff did well against QPR in their second game as well but lacked the clinical touch to make their opportunities count.
Despite picking up just one point, the Welsh giants will prove to be formidable opponents especially if Leicester City slack off. Bulut has little reason to change his starting XI and is likely to retain the same side that fell to QPR at home.
🗣️ "Of course, we have seen a reaction in training this week."
Erol spoke to the press this afternoon ahead of our clash with Leicester City ⬇️#CityAsOne
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) August 17, 2023
A 4-2-3-1 formation appears to be the flavour of the day, with Jak Alnwick starting in goal. He will be protected by the back four of Perry Ng, Mark McGuinness, Dimitrios Goutas and Callum O’Dowda.
Ryan Wintle and Ebou Adams should form the double pivot, giving the trio of Josh Bowler, Aaron Ramsey and Karlan Grant the freedom to push forward. Ike Ugbo scored last time around and should keep his spot up front.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alnwick; Ng, McGuinness, Goutas, O’Dowda; Wintle, Adams; Bowler, Ramsey, Grant; Ugbo
Key Stats
- A win on Saturday will see Cardiff City win away to Leicester City thrice in a row for the first time since 1979.
- Cardiff City have kept a clean sheet in four of their last seven league games against Leicester City.
- A win on Saturday will see Leicester City win the first three games of their league campaign for just the fifth time in their history.
- Leicester City have made the most goal-ending high turnovers in the Championship (2) this season heading into game week three.
- Leicester City have won just two of their last seven league games against Cardiff City.
- Leicester City have won their last six Championship games in a row.
Player to Watch
Aaron Ramsey
Erol Bulut needs his experienced star to take the bull by the horns and swing the tie in their favour. Ramsey is expected to don the number ten’s role on the night and will be tasked with fashioning goalscoring opportunities for Ike Ugbo and co.
The 32-year-old still has it in him to make a telling difference and helping Cardiff down Leicester could turn around their season. How well the visitors perform in the final third will be largely dependent on the veteran star’s performance.
Prediction
Leicester City 2-1 Cardiff City
Cardiff can play with some freedom on the night and this could see them cause Leicester some trouble. However, the Foxes aren’t just stronger in terms of playing personnel but are a far fitter side who have made it a habit of scoring late goals. The Foxes’ quality should shine through, earning them a close win over the Welsh visitors on the night, continuing their perfect start to the campaign.
I hope Leicester stay down but prediction and its reasoning make a lot of sense