Chelsea vs Leicester Preview

• Chelsea to win
• Over 2.5 goals

Chelsea will look to build on their recent momentum as they host struggling Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in a crucial Premier League fixture.

The Blues come into this match on a high after consecutive victories over Southampton (4-0) in the league and Copenhagen (2-1) in the UEFA Conference League.

Meanwhile, Leicester are fighting for survival and desperately need to turn their fortunes around after a string of poor results.

Will Chelsea continue their resurgence, or can Leicester spring a surprise? Here’s a comprehensive preview of this matchup.

Chelsea’s Confidence Boost After Back-to-Back Wins

Chelsea have started to find consistency at a crucial stage of the season, with their dominant 4-0 win over Southampton followed by a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Copenhagen in midweek European action.

These results should provide Enzo Maresca’s side with plenty of confidence heading into this fixture.

However, the Blues must guard against complacency. While they have an impressive record against promoted sides, their 2-0 defeat to Ipswich in December serves as a warning not to underestimate struggling teams.

That loss remains Chelsea’s only defeat against a newly promoted side this season, but it was a reminder of the unpredictability of the Premier League.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have been relatively strong, losing just twice in the league this season (W7, D4).

They are now targeting a fourth consecutive Premier League home win, a feat they haven’t achieved since a run of five victories that ended in May.

Encouragingly for the hosts, they are unbeaten in their last four home league meetings with Leicester (W2, D2), although they have conceded exactly once in each of those matches.

Leicester’s Survival Hopes Dwindling

Leicester’s fight for survival is becoming increasingly desperate. The Foxes have suffered four consecutive league defeats, conceding at least twice in each, leaving them five points adrift of safety coming into this match.

Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy remains defiant, insisting his team is “still in the fight,” but their performances suggest they are running out of ammunition.

Their most recent victory—a shock 2-1 win at Tottenham—came at the end of January, but that now feels like a distant memory.

Since then, they have lost twice and struggled to offer any attacking threat. Worryingly, they have failed to score in each of their last four Premier League defeats, a statistic that highlights their offensive struggles.

Leicester’s away record this season offers little encouragement. Their only two victories on the road have come against Southampton—who sit at the bottom of the table—and Tottenham. Otherwise, their away form reads (D2, L9), making their trip to Stamford Bridge an uphill battle.

While they have at least scored in each of their last six visits to this ground (W1, D2, L3), their recent goal drought—failing to score in nine of their last 12 league games—suggests they will find it tough to break Chelsea’s defence.

Head-to-Head Record: Chelsea Hold the Edge

Chelsea have had the upper hand in recent encounters with Leicester, particularly at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are unbeaten in their last four home league meetings with the Foxes (W2, D2), and they won the reverse fixture 2-1 in November.

However, Leicester have made a habit of scoring at Stamford Bridge, finding the net in each of their last six visits.

If they are to have any hope of a positive result, they will need to rediscover their attacking touch, something that has been sorely missing in recent weeks.

Key Players to Watch

Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)

The Argentine midfielder has been influential for Chelsea in recent games, scoring in two of their last three matches. Fernández also netted against Leicester in the reverse fixture, helping the Blues to a 2-1 victory.

However, discipline has been an issue, as he has been booked in three of his last four appearances in all competitions. Chelsea will look to him to dictate play from midfield while maintaining his composure.

Jordan Ayew (Leicester)

Ayew was Leicester’s goalscorer in the reverse fixture, and he remains one of their biggest attacking threats.

Interestingly, three of his four league goals this season have come in second-half injury time, meaning he could be a player to watch if Leicester are chasing the game late on. Given the Foxes’ current struggles in front of goal, they will need Ayew to step up once again.

Prediction: Chelsea to Continue Winning Run

With Chelsea riding high on confidence and Leicester in freefall, the outcome of this match seems relatively predictable.

The Blues have been strong at Stamford Bridge and will be motivated to extend their winning streak. Leicester, on the other hand, are struggling for goals and confidence, making it difficult to see them getting a result here.

Chelsea’s biggest challenge will be maintaining their focus and ensuring they don’t allow Leicester to grow into the game. If they start strongly and replicate their recent attacking form, this could be another convincing victory for the hosts.

Predicted Score:  Chelsea 3-0 Leicester 

Chelsea should have enough quality to secure a comfortable win, further cementing their resurgence under Enzo Maresca. For Leicester, the battle for survival will likely continue to intensify as they inch closer to relegation.

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Chelsea v Leicester, 2024/25 | Premier League