The King Power Stadium is set to host an intriguing Premier League clash between Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth. Both teams find themselves in need of points, albeit for different reasons, and their head-to-head record suggests this could be a tightly contested affair.
With 5 wins each in their previous encounters and 5 draws, this match holds promise as a closely fought battle. Both sides come into the game in varying forms, but neither can afford a slip-up. Here’s how the two teams are shaping up ahead of the fixture.
Leicester City Preview
Leicester City enters this fixture struggling to find their first Premier League win of the season. Currently sitting in 17th place, they’ve managed only 2 points from their last 5 matches.
Their previous game saw them suffer a 4-2 defeat to Arsenal in a dramatic encounter where Leicester’s defensive frailties were exposed once again, conceding 4 goals with an xG of 4.09 for Arsenal, highlighting just how much pressure they were under.
Despite rallying from two goals down to briefly level the match at 2-2, their inability to maintain focus late in games cost them dearly. It’s been a recurring issue for the Foxes this season, having conceded 11 goals in their last 5 matches.
With only 6 goals scored in that same period, Leicester’s attack has been inconsistent, and their final xG of 0.27 against Arsenal underscores their struggle to convert chances into goals.
Playing at home hasn’t been much of an advantage for Leicester either, with just 2 draws and 1 loss from their 3 home games. They’ve scored only 3 goals while conceding 4 at the King Power Stadium this season.
However, the form of goalkeeper Hermansen, ranked second in the league for saves per match (5.2), provides a glimmer of hope for Leicester to keep Bournemouth at bay.
Bournemouth Preview
Bournemouth, on the other hand, sits 13th in the league, a somewhat better position than Leicester, but they too are struggling to find consistent form.
Their last 5 matches have produced a mixed bag of results, with 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses, scoring just 5 goals while conceding 8. In their recent outings, the Cherries have found it difficult to break down defences, failing to score in their last two matches.
Away from home, Bournemouth has been slightly better, picking up 4 points from their 3 games. They’ve managed 4 goals on the road but have conceded 6, showing vulnerabilities in defence, particularly in the latter stages of games.
They will be eager to take advantage of Leicester’s leaky backline, though their own lack of a clean sheet in the last 7 matches will be a concern for manager Andoni Iraola.
Bournemouth’s lineup will be slightly impacted by the absence of Tyler Adams due to a back injury. However, key players like Justin Kluivert and Evanilson will be expected to step up in the attacking third, as Bournemouth looks to end their two-game goal drought.
Injury News
- Leicester City:
- Bournemouth:
Leicester City vs. Bournemouth Head-to-Head
Historically, these two teams have been evenly matched, with Leicester City and Bournemouth sharing 5 wins each and 5 draws in their previous 15 encounters.
Interestingly, none of their last 7 meetings have ended in a draw, suggesting we could be in for a decisive result this weekend.
Leicester’s last home match against Bournemouth ended in a win for the Foxes, but Bournemouth will be looking to reverse that trend this time around.
Leicester City vs. Bournemouth Predicted Lineups
- Leicester City (4-2-3-1):
- Goalkeeper: Hermansen
- Defenders: Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen
- Midfielders: Skipp, Winks; Buonanotte, Ndidi, Mavididi
- Striker: Vardy
- Bournemouth (4-2-3-1):
- Goalkeeper: Kepa Arizabalaga
- Defenders: Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Araujo
- Midfielders: Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier
- Striker: Evanilson
Leicester City vs. Bournemouth Who Will Win? & Score Prediction
With Leicester City’s defensive woes and Bournemouth’s struggles in front of goal, this match could go either way. Leicester has a slight edge with a 57% chance of winning, while Bournemouth has a 29% chance.
The bookmakers have made Bournemouth slight favourites with odds of 2.15, but the closeness of the odds suggests a tight encounter.
Ultimately, Leicester’s home form, coupled with Bournemouth’s lack of clean sheets, points to a potential Leicester win. However, Bournemouth’s ability to hit teams on the counter could pose problems for a Leicester defence that has struggled to remain solid for 90 minutes.
Score Prediction: Leicester City 2-1 Bournemouth
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