Chelsea vs Leicester: Match Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction
On Sunday, March 9, Chelsea will host Leicester at Stamford Bridge as part of the 28th round of the English Premier League. The match is set to kick off at 3:00 PM Central European Time. With Chelsea pushing for a top-four finish and Leicester battling relegation, an intense encounter is expected.
Chelsea’s Form and Recent Performance
Chelsea enters this match following a 2-1 victory over Copenhagen in the Conference League playoffs. However, their domestic form has been inconsistent. Since the Conference League went on break, Chelsea has slipped from second to fifth in the Premier League table with 46 points. They remain in contention for a Champions League spot but have struggled in recent weeks, losing three of their last five league matches. Additionally, they were eliminated from the FA Cup after a 2-1 loss to Brighton.
Despite their recent struggles, Chelsea has dominated Leicester in head-to-head meetings, winning four of their last five encounters, with the remaining match ending in a draw.
Leicester’s Struggles and Relegation Battle
Leicester finds themselves in deep trouble, sitting in 19th place, five points away from safety. Their recent form has been abysmal, losing five consecutive matches and managing just three points in their last 13 league games, with 12 defeats in that run.
Defensively, Leicester has one of the worst records in the league, conceding 61 goals. With such poor form and a fragile backline, getting a result against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge will be a massive challenge.
Key Statistics and Head-to-Head Meetings
- Leicester has lost 7 of their last 8 matches.
- Leicester has lost 8 of their last 9 away games.
- Chelsea has won 4 of their last 5 home matches.
- Chelsea has scored first in 9 of their last 11 matches.
- Chelsea has won 6 of the last 7 meetings against Leicester.
- Both teams have scored in 6 of the last 7 encounters between these sides.
Key Player to Watch
Cole Palmer will be Chelsea’s key player in this match. The young forward is the club’s top scorer this season, with 14 goals and 6 assists in 27 Premier League appearances. However, he has gone eight matches without finding the net, which could serve as extra motivation to make an impact against Leicester.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea: Jorgensen, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, James, Fernandez, Palmer, Sancho, Nkunku, Neto.
Leicester: Hermansen, Justin, Kristiansen, Faes, Vestergaard, Ndidi, Soumare, Buonanotte, El-Hannous, Ayew, Vardy.
Match Prediction
Chelsea enters this match as the clear favorite, given their superior squad and Leicester’s struggles. The Foxes have one of the weakest defenses in the league, which increases the likelihood of Chelsea finding the net. However, with Leicester desperate to avoid relegation, they will also push forward in search of goals.
Given the recent history between these teams and Leicester’s defensive vulnerabilities, the best betting option is both teams to score, with odds of 1.87.
