The King Power Club have emerged victorious in their previous two preseason fixtures. That being said, it should have been expected based on the quality currently in the squad against the opposition we had. In our double match day, Koln represents the toughest challenge so we can expect our ‘quality’ side to play against them.
However, Marti Cifuentes will be looking to get a good understanding of the side and what options he has in different positions. This may be the first time we actually see Woyo Coulibaly start a game after the Foxes signed the player as their sole permanent signing in the previous January window. Let’s have a look at the games.
Leicester City v Karpaty Lviv
The Ukrainian Premier Liga team are set to face the English Championship former Champions and relegated Premier League squad, with seemingly no additions to the squad and no major exits outside of those out of contract. Cifuentes’ team will be split in two, likely with less substitutions than previously with a second match happening later in the day.
The team to face Karpaty Lviv is likely to be the ‘second team’. With both matches occurring in Austria, there is always the chance that some of the players from the first match may appear in the second match. Nevertheless, I would expect Stevie Bausor to start in the net for Leicester City.
At the back, Woyo Coulibaly, Ricardo Pereira, Jannik Vestergaard, and Caleb Okoli should start. Pereira would be the idea fit for the defensive midfield to right back role Cifuentes preferred in the last match. From what we could see, the game turned into a back three in possession and a back four with compact defensive lines in defence. Hamza Choudhury took that position, and Pereira needs to show that he should be the starting player for that position.
In midfield, Boubakary Soumare, Will Alves, and possibly Oliver Skipp would be the best starting line-up. I feel Skipp has more work to prove himself so would do better against Karpaty, and I expect his slower tempo to be better placed next to the more progressive Soumare and highly creative Alves. The former Tottenham man will have to set the tempo.
Up front, Jake Evans, Stephy Mavididi, and Jordan Ayew will make up the attacking force. Evans was prolific for the youth squad last season, and will need as much game time as possible go get a chance in the Championship. Meanwhile, Ayew - again - appears to be one of our best experienced players at actually scoring the occasional goal.
Foxes v FC Koln
The German first tier team offer a real challenge for the Foxes. Cifuentes will need to ensure they offer a strong team up to have any chance of success. The match will also act to illustrate the level the team are playing at under the new head coach. Leicester City should put out a strong team which could reasonably be expected to act as their starting line-up in the coming season.
The King Power Club will likely send out Jakub Stolarczyk as their No.1, with a backline of Luke Thomas, Wout Faes, Conor Coady, with Choudhury acting as the DM-RB role. Midfield will be taken by the passing creativity of Harry Winks, defensive intent and hunger of Wilfred Ndidi, and creative masterclass of Bilal El Khannouss.
If the Foxes manage to keep Khannouss and Winks, they will probably form the backbone of midfield under Cifuentes with the support of Choudhury or Pereira. Upfront, Jeremy Monga will continue to get game time ahead of a maiden senior campaign, with Patson Daka and Kasey McAteer having performed well in previous matches taking the remaining slots.