Rennes V Leicester: Predicted XI with Wesley Fofana set to return

Leicester City travel to France to face Rennes at Roazhon Park for the second leg in the round of 16 of the Europa Conference League. Here is our preview and predicted line-up for the game.

The Foxes are sitting 2-0 up going into the away tie which will give them an extra boost going into the game. Rennes have just played Lyon at the weekend (Sunday 13th March), winning 4-2 so will be buzzing with confidence coming off that game and will be ready to fight in tomorrow’s match. Les Rouge et Noirs will be ready to cause upset and looking to put at least three goals past City in order to progress.

Leicester City Injuries

Brendan Rodgers revealed Danny Ward has had an operation on his knee and will be out for a number of weeks and is the only new injury to add to the list. Jamie Vardy is still sidelined with a knee issue but is expected to be back after the international break.

Predicted XI

Wesley Fofana returns to the squad after being unavailable at the weekend due to having Covid. Jonny Evans has returned to training after suffering a back injury along with Timothy Castagne also returning to training this week, but I don’t think either will feature in the matchday squad as it would be too soon and risk further injury.

I think Rodgers will field another strong side against a tough Rennes team. My predicted eleven would be:

Kasper Schmeichel (GK), Luke Thomas (LB), Caglar Soyuncu (CB), Daniel Amartey (CB), James Justin (RB), Wilfred Ndidi (DM), Youri Tielemans (CM), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (CM), Harvey Barnes (LW), Marc Albrighton (RW), Patson Daka (ST).

I have gone for the same team as the first leg. However, the two CM’s were really hard to decide as I wondered if Maddison will start but I just don’t think any of the midfield deserve to be dropped. In fairness, Maddison is still coming back from a back injury.

Looking at the bench, I think ‘Madders’ will come on for Dewsbury-Hall to give the Shepshed-born man a rest. Ademola Lookman will replace Barnes; Justin will also be taken off with Pereira as his replacement, most likely. Rodgers says Wesley Fofana will be involved but I don’t think we’ll see him make an appearance until the latter stages of the game and potentially replacing Amartey.

Score prediction

This will again be a tough fixture for the King Power side: being the away team and already being 2-0 up on aggregate the pressure will be on to progress to the quarter-finals. I expect the final score will be 2-1 to Leicester because Rennes are playing at home and have a better form there: winning four games in the last five.

The French side have also scored 57 goals so far in Ligue 1 with only Paris Saint-Germain having scored more (59). 33 of their goals scored are from home games so have really good form.

Although, I think LCFC have a really good chance of progressing into the QF due to focus and preparation going into this game, including resting key players from the Premier League fixture against Arsenal at the weekend (Sunday 13th March).