Leicester City head to the Czech Republic on Thursday to face Slavia Prague in the Europa League last 32 first leg. Eden Arena in Prague will be the site of this big fixture as Brendan Rodgers’ team aim to take one step closer to the tournament final.
According to leading sportsbooks, the Foxes have the fifth-best odds to win the Europa League this season at 12/1. Four of the top five teams in odds to win the Europa League are Premier League clubs. Sportsbooks believe in the strength of the English league in this year’s Europa League competition.
Standing in Leicester City’s way of moving onto the last 16 are Slavia Prague. The Czech club go into the game as underdogs at home but will hope to throw a spanner in the works.
Manager Jindřich Trpišovský’s team finished second in Group C with 12 points from 18 possible. They ended the group stage a mere three points behind winners Bayer Leverkusen. Slavia Prague scored 11 goals and conceded 10 times in the group.
Slavia Prague are on a great run of form going into the game on Thursday night. They are unbeaten in 10 straight matches in all competitions with nine of those matches ending in wins. Slavia Prague’s last loss came against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League group stage.
Leicester City are coming off of a confidence-building 3-1 win over Liverpool in the league. They have won back-to-back games going into the midweek fixture and should certainly fancy their chances of winning away from home.
Rodgers’ biggest worry is the defensive injuries the club have at the moment. James Justin is now ruled out with a knee injury for the rest of the season. He joins full-back Timothy Castagne on the sidelines along with centre-backs Wesley Fofana and Wes Morgan.
Ayoze Perez and Dennis Praet are both ruled out as well. The latter won’t return until April. Rodgers will play his strongest side against Slavia Prague with Jamie Vardy and James Maddison leading the attack.
Three players are on the Slavia Prague injury list. Tomas Malinsky and Laco Takacs are both likely to be available. David Hovorka could be fit to play as well.
Leicester City are in form going into the first leg of the last 32 against Slavia Prague. They should transfer that great league form over the Europa League and take an advantage back to the King Power Stadium for next week’s second leg. Expect a win to nil and under 2.5 goals for the Foxes.
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