Leicester City welcome Spartak Moscow to King Power Stadium in a huge Group C clash in 2021-22 UEFA Europa League.
Victory could see Leicester go top if Napoli avoid defeat to Legia Warsaw, whereas Spartak could move off the foot of the group standings with a win.
Team News
Ayoze Perez is a slight doubt for Leicester after illness kept him out of Saturday’s Premier League loss to Arsenal.
Ricardo Pereira (knock) is also considered a doubt but Marc Albrighton (knock), James Justin (knee) and Wesley Fofana (leg) remain ruled out.
Spartak have no fresh injury concerns to report as Georgi Melkadze (muscle), Nail Umyarov (calf), Ezequiel Ponce (knee) and Pavel Maslow (tendon) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Leicester won their first-ever meeting against Spartak Moscow in all competitions – having prevailed 4-3 in Moscow a fortnight ago.
- Spartak Moscow are visiting Leicester for the very first time.
- Five of Leicester’s six goals in the Europa League this season have been scored by strikers – Ayoze Perez (1) and Patson Daka (4).
- Four of Spartak’s six goals in Group B have been scored as braces from Quincy Promes and Aleksandr Sobolev.
- This is Leicester’s first European match to be refereed by Halil Umut Meler.
Prediction
Leicester have enjoyed a strong upturn in form in recent weeks but Saturday’s defeat served as a reminder of their defensive fragilities, in which they were simply outclassed in the first half by Arsenal but poor finishing ultimately cost them despite building intensity throughout the match.
Spartak Moscow meanwhile will pose a dangerous threat with their attacking football as evident in the first leg, although defending hasn’t been their strongest point this season which should hopefully mean goals given the defensive issues within both teams.
On that note, I expect some cracking battles across the pitch but if Leicester can build on how they finished at the weekend with better finishing, I can see them finding enough to claim the win.
Prediction: Leicester 2-1 Spartak Moscow
Result: Leicester 1-1 Spartak Moscow