Leicester City will once again look to put behind their domestic disappointments when they meet Club Brugge in the Champions League at home. The Foxes have had a tumultuous season with a Jekyll and Hyde performance till now. They have been uninspiring, bordering on the awful in the League while they have suddenly picked themselves up in the till-recently virgin territory of the UEFA Champions League. The loss against Watford meant they are still stuck in the 14th spot and things are looking a bit sombre in the League. They have looked flat and the likes of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have failed to reach anywhere near the heights of their exploits of last season.
They have almost guaranteed a place in the Round of 16 and will be confident of a win against Club Brugge who visit the King Power Stadium in a couple of days. The two sides have met only once previously, in this same competition where a sparkling Leicester side beat them 0-3. They have to hold on to their UCL comforts as long as possible and Ranieri has to make sure that they draw positivity from the European competition to aid their title-defence (!)
T4O’S PREDICTED LEICESTER CITY LINE-UP VS CLUB BRUGGE (4-4-2)
DEFENCE
Ron Robert-Zieler will again be selected in goal in the absence of Kasper Schmeichel and will look to replicate his teammate’s heroics in the previous matches. Luis Hernandez might again line up at right-back as he has been previously assigned this role in Europe. Simpson is likely to miss out with rotation a key. Ranieri is unlikely to take too many chances at the heart of the defence, with Robert Huth and Wes Morgan looking nailed-on. Fuchs will look to carry his good attacking form into this match where the Foxes will be expected to dictate the terms of play.
MIDFIELD
Ranieri might go with a change in the central midfield and to establish a better control it is likely that Andy King will be selected alongside Drinkwater. Midfield has been a grey area for them ever since the departure of Kante, with no one able to replicate anything near the French midfielder. Albrighton will look to provide balance on the left-flank and although he hasn’t been at his best, he needs to keep at it. Mahrez will line up on the right-wing with a penalty likely to aid his diminishing confidence.
ATTACK
Islam Slimani can be partnered with Ahmed Musa with the out of sorts Jamie Vardy starting on the bench.
