Will Leicester beat the Blues for the third time in 2021?
The English Premier League resumes play after the final international break in 2021/22 with a real treat. In the course of matchday twelve, Leicester and Chelsea face each other at the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon from 13:30. In the last two seasons, both teams battled it out for CL qualification right up until the final matchday, with the Blues getting the better end of the deal on each occasion.
After eleven completed games this season, the teams do not necessarily operate on equal terms. The Tuchel protégés from the capital lead the Premier League, while Leicester, in twelfth place in the table, have so far fallen short of expectations. Therefore, in the top match between Leicester and Chelsea, the visitors are seen as very clear favourites according to current betting odds.
The Foxes, however, are a team that can basically be described as very strong at home. At first glance, there is no value to be found in betting on Chelsea. An assessment that is deceptive? The following article gets to the bottom of this question.
Leicester – Statistics & current form
Soberly speaking, Leicester City are playing their weakest season since the 2017/18 season. After eleven completed games, there are just 15 meagre points on the credit side. Compared to the previous year, this means a minus of six points, compared to 2019/20 even a minus of eight points.
Head coach Brendan Rodgers is not being criticised for this, however, but has been repeatedly brought into the conversation by the media as Manchester United coach. However, the ex-Liverpool coach doesn’t like this speculation and is concentrating on his job at Leicester.
Defensive worries
The reasons for the mixed start to the season are probably to be found in the defence in particular. The defence around Kasper Schmeichel has seemingly forgotten how to play to nil in recent weeks and months. In the last 17 Premier League games, they have only managed not to concede a goal once – in the 1-0 win on matchday one against Wolves.
That means the Foxes have conceded at least one goal in each of their last ten games. The last time a longer streak was seen was between October and December 2016, and that streak will most likely be halted on Saturday, as with 73 per cent “both teams score” games, between Leicester and Chelsea this tip is absolutely obvious.
Life insurance Vardy, Daka still without penetrating power in the league
After two wins in a row on matchday eight and nine, Leicester were brought back down to earth in games against Arsenal (0:2) and Leeds (1:1). Extremely striking is still the enormous dependence on Jamie Vardy. The veteran already has seven goals for the season and he is now only two goals short of Ian Wright’s PL record. The latter has scored 93 PL goals after his 30th birthday, Vardy currently holds at 91.
King transfer Patson Daka has only one meagre goal to his name in the league. But the African has been making headlines recently with his four-goal haul in the Europa League and is finding his feet in the physical Premier League.
Predicted Leicester line-up:
Schmeichel – Castagne, Evans, Söyüncü, Pereira – Ndidi – Barnes, Tielemans, Maddison, Lookman – Vardy
Last matches played by Leicester:
Premier League
11/07 2021 – Leeds 1 – 1 Leicester
Europa League Grp. C
11/04 2021 – Leicester 1 – 1 Spartak Moscow
Premier League
10/30 2021 – Leicester 0 – 2 Arsenal London
Carabao Cup
10/27 2021 – Leicester (4)2 – 2(2) Brighton
Premier League
10/24 2021 – Brentford 1 – 2 Leicester
Chelsea – Statistics & current form
The anniversary is approaching and next Tuesday’s Champions League game against Juventus Turin will mark Thomas Tuchel’s 50th competitive game as head coach of the Blues. So far, the Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel relationship has been a pure love story that couldn’t have gone any better.
Chelsea with a bearish defence
The Blues have averaged 2.23 points per game in their 48 competitive games so far. In the current 2021/22 season, this average is even higher. Across all competitions, Chelsea have scored an outstanding 2.44 points this season.
The defence is absolutely impressive. Chelsea do not play unsightly defensive football, but still hardly allow any opportunities. In the domestic championship, Chelsea have conceded only four goals in eleven games so far. They have scored seven times and have never conceded more than one goal.
Chelsea have won all of their last three away games in the league and have not conceded a goal. A longer run of away victories without conceding a goal came 13 years ago, when Chelsea celebrated as many as six such successes under Felipe Scolari.
Chelsea show brains
Whoever plays for Thomas Tuchel must be extremely flexible, because the German can change his tactics at the drop of a hat. A certain basic intelligence is imperative for this, but Chelsea have also shown a lot of brains in other ways this season. Chelsea have already scored four headed goals in 2021/22, more than any other PL team.
Predicted Chelsea line-up:
Mendy – Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Christensen – Chilwell, Kante, Jorginho, James – Barkley – Hudson-Odoi, Havertz
Last Chelsea games:
Premier League
11/06 2021 – Chelsea London 1 – 1 Burnley
Champions League Grp. H
11/02 2021 – Malmö FF 0 – 1 Chelsea London
Premier League
10/30 2021 – Newcastle United 0 – 3 Chelsea London
Carabao Cup
10/26 2021 – Chelsea London (4)1 – 1(3) Southampton
Premier League
10/23 2021 – Chelsea London 7 – 0 Norwich
Leicester – Chelsea Direct comparison / H2H record
The Blues have a very clear lead in the direct comparison, after all Leicester have only won three of their last 18 Premier League games. However, the trips to the King Power Stadium have not been crowned with success in recent years, Chelsea not winning any of their last three guest appearances at Leicester (two draws, one win for the Foxes).
As well as winning the league this January, Rodgers’ eleven also won the FA Cup final. A third win early on Saturday afternoon would make Leicester only the second team to win three times in a calendar year against the Blues in the last ten years (Manchester United 2019).
Leicester – Chelsea Tip
The Rodgers protégés have not yet been able to match the results of previous years this season, yet the quality in the Leicester squad is undisputed. This is another reason why betting on the league leader in the top match between Leicester and Chelsea seems too risky. Betting odds of less than 1.80 are by no means lucrative for the Tuchel team, because the starting situation is by no means that clear-cut.
A bet on the double chance 1X is definitely an option. Even more interesting, however, is the bet that both teams will score at least once. The home side are currently struggling defensively and keep conceding goals. Even though Lukaku and/or Werner might still not be fit, Chelsea have quite a few players who can score. Thanks to Jamie Vardy, a Leicester goal is also close. Therefore, the prediction for Leicester against Chelsea is recommended on goals from both teams with six units bet.
