Premier League Soccer; Chelsea v Leicester City – Back Blues for FA Cup Revenge on Tuesday night

EPL Preview: Matchday 37 of 38 – Chelsea v Leicester City – Stamford Bridge – Tuesday, 18 May 2021, 20:15 hrs. BST

Chelsea v Leicester City Preview

Chelsea and Leicester City both face each other once again on Tuesday night, May 18, after just having locked horns with them in a FA Cup final on Saturday afternoon. The Foxes defeated Chelsea 1-0 at the Wembley to lift their first FA Cup ever.

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Thomas Tuchels's men missed a chance to move a point above 3rd placed Leicester when they lost 0-1 to Arsenal on Wednesday.

Coming out of celebrations of their maiden FA Cup triumph, Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes will certainly aim to remain in the Top Four space as they have been for most of the season. On the other hand, Tuchel will be demanding the utmost from his players with a win being the only option on Tuesday if they are to remain in the Top Four.

European Qualification Implications

Securing a top-four spot remains a primary goal for both teams, as it guarantees UEFA Champions League football next season. Chelsea, trailing Leicester by only two points, will need a win to leapfrog their rivals and strengthen their claim.

With competition from other top clubs intensifying, points from this match could determine their final standing. Leicester hope to maintain their position and avoid slipping into the Europa League slot, making this clash all the more decisive.

Recent Form Stats

Chelsea Premier League form: WDWWWL

Chelsea form across all competitions: DWWWLL

Leicester City Premier League form: LWWDLW

Leicester City form across all competitions: WWDLWW

Team News

Doubts regarding the fitness of Mateo Kovacic and Andreas Christensen persist with both players missing out on the FA Cup final.

Christensen had to limp off in the latter stages of the recent league victory over Man City after sustaining a hamstring injury, with Tuchel announcing that the defender is unlikely to return until next Sunday's final day fixture against Aston Villa.

Tuchel is likely to effect several changes to the side that started in Saturday's final, with the likes of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Kurt Zouma, Ben Chilwell, Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz all pushing for starts.

Leicester will be handicapped in the defense by the absence of Jonny Evans with his muscle problems surfacing once again during Saturday's final. Evans was replaced by Marc Albrighton and both he and Timothy Castagne are likely to make starts at the back.

The normally prolific Kelechi Iheanacho failed to impress at Wembley and James Maddison who seems to be fully fit now will probably start in the Nigerian's place alongside Jamie Vardy in an upfront role.

Harvey Barnes and James Justin are the major absentees in the midfield space and will be out for the remainder of the season owing to serious knee injuries.

Key Players to Watch

Keep an eye on N'Golo Kanté, whose midfield dominance can tilt the balance in Chelsea's favour. His ability to disrupt play and initiate attacks is unmatched.

On Leicester's side, Youri Tielemans offers creativity and goal-scoring prowess from midfield. His vision and passing can unlock defences, making him a key player to monitor.

Chelsea probable starting XI:

Mendy (goal); James, Zouma, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Chilwell; Mount, Havertz, Pulisic

Leicester City probable starting XI:

Schmeichel (goal); Castagne, Fofana, Soyuncu; Albrighton, Tielemans, Ndidi, Thomas; Perez, Maddison; Vardy

Verdict

Chelsea's performances in both of their recent defeats were not bad by any means. The Blues dominated proceedings heavily but were short on creativity when it came to getting goals.

The Foxes will take confidence from their solid defensive performance in the FA Cup finals at Wembley and not losing the match itself could provide them the desired cushion going into the final day's fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester are currently 2 points ahead of their 4th placed opponents' tally of 64.

The Blues are not expected to continue with their poor striking form for a third match in a row and with the kind of attacking firepower and defensive prowess at their disposal, they might just get the better of the visitors on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge.

Historical Performance at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea's record at Stamford Bridge against Leicester shows a history of dominance, with the Blues often prevailing in important matches.

Previous encounters at this venue have seen Chelsea utilise their home advantage effectively. The atmosphere and familiarity of the ground can serve as a significant morale booster for Chelsea players, potentially influencing the outcome of the fixture.

Chelsea v Leicester City odds

Soccer Odds at MyBookieSoccer Odds at MyBookie

• Chelsea to win: 4/6
• Leicester City to win: 4/1
• Draw: 11/4

Correct score

• Chelsea 1-0: 6/1 (predicted score)
• Draw 1-1: 7/1 (probable score)
• Chelsea 2-0: 15/2
• Chelsea 2-1: 17/2
• Leicester 1-0: 12/1
• Draw 1-1: 7/1
• Chelsea 3-0: 14/1
• Chelsea 3-1: 16/1
• Leicester 2-1: 16/1
• Draw 2-2: 20/1
• Leicester 2-0: 25/1
• Chelsea 3-2: 33/1
• Leicester 3-1: 40/1
• Leicester 3-2: 50/1

Anytime Goalscorer

• Olivier Giroud: 11/10
• Timo Werner: 6/4
• Kai Havertz: 15/8
• Christian Pulisic: 15/8
• Kelechi Iheanacho: 12/5
• Jamie Vardy: 11/5 (recommended bet)
• Mason Mount: 11/5
• Callum Hudson-Odoi: 11/5
• Hakim Ziyech: 12/5
• James Maddison: 5/1
• Caglar Soyuncu: 20/1

Soccer Odds at MyBookieSoccer Odds at MyBookie

Recent Developments at Chelsea

Chelsea's football operations saw significant changes in 2023 when Mauricio Pochettino took over as manager. Under his guidance, Chelsea secured a 6th-place finish and qualified for the Conference League play-off round, showing promise yet falling short in the 2024 EFL Cup final, losing 0-1 to Liverpool.

The following year, Enzo Maresca stepped in as head coach, starting his tenure on 1 July 2024. This period marked a strategic shift at the club as Maresca aimed to rebuild the team amidst ongoing rivalries with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Leeds United.

Chelsea also made economic strides, ranking as the ninth-most-valuable and ninth-highest-earning football club in 2024, valued at $3.13 billion. These changes and achievements illustrate Chelsea's shifting strategy in both football and business contexts.

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