FULL TIME
2-0
MATCH PREVIEW & MORE INFO
Leicster City: possible starting lineup: Martinez; Nedeljkovic, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Tielemans, Onana, McGinn; Rogers; Watkins
Aston Villa: possible starting lineup: Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Ndidi; Fatawu, Buonanotte, Decordova-Reid; Vardy
Match Preview
Leicester City and Aston Villa will face off at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, both eager to recover from defeats in their last Premier League outings. The match marks the first meeting between the two sides since April 2023, when Aston Villa secured a 2-1 away victory over the Foxes.
Leicester City started their Premier League return with a draw against Tottenham Hotspur but suffered a 2-1 defeat away at Fulham last weekend. Despite Wout Faes’s equalizing header, the Foxes were unable to salvage a point, with Alex Iwobi's second-half goal sealing their fate.
However, Leicester bounced back midweek with a dominant 4-0 win over Tranmere Rovers in the EFL Cup, giving Steve Cooper his first victory as the club's manager. Goals from debutant Jordan Ayew, Stephy Mavididi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Harry Winks secured their progression to the third round.
Steve Cooper will hope to continue building on this momentum, but he faces a tough task as Leicester have struggled against Aston Villa in recent home encounters, winning just one of the last five meetings at the King Power Stadium.
Aston Villa came into the season with high hopes but faced a setback last weekend with a 2-0 loss to Arsenal at Villa Park. Despite creating chances, including Ollie Watkins’s missed opportunity and David Raya’s brilliant save, Villa failed to find the back of the net.
Unai Emery acknowledged the need for his team to improve, especially with Champions League commitments on the horizon. Villa's defense has been a concern, as they have now gone seven consecutive Premier League games without a clean sheet, conceding 15 goals in the process.
Nevertheless, Villa have enjoyed recent success at the King Power Stadium, earning seven points from their last three visits. Emery will look to build on this form as his side aims for a strong finish in the top ten or even the top six this season.
Team News
Leicester City have a few injury concerns, with Patson Daka and Jakub Stolarczyk sidelined with long-term ankle injuries. However, Luke Thomas and Conor Coady returned to fitness midweek, with Thomas playing the full 90 minutes and Coady coming on as a substitute. Despite their return, Cooper is expected to stick with the back four of James Justin, Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard, and Victor Kristiansen that started against Fulham.
In midfield, new signings Oliver Skipp and Facundo Buonanotte could feature alongside Wilfred Ndidi and Harry Winks, while Jamie Vardy is likely to lead the attack, supported by Abdul Fatawu and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
Aston Villa have been hit with injuries as well, with Matty Cash out for a month due to a hamstring injury sustained against Arsenal. Kosta Nedeljkovic or Ezri Konsa could fill in at right-back. Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings are still recovering from knee injuries, while backup goalkeeper Robin Olsen might return to the bench after missing the opening games due to a facial injury.
Morgan Rogers, who impressed against Arsenal, is expected to continue in an advanced role behind Ollie Watkins. Leon Bailey, Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, and John McGinn are likely to retain their places in midfield.
This match will be crucial for both teams as they seek to build momentum in the early stages of the Premier League season. With Leicester looking for their first league win under Steve Cooper and Aston Villa aiming to bounce back from their defeat to Arsenal, it promises to be a tightly contested encounter.