Preview: Villarreal vs. Leicester City – prediction, team news, lineups

Leicester City will open their preparations for the 2024-25 Premier League campaign with a pre-season friendly against the La Liga side Villarreal Saturday afternoon.

The Foxes won the Championship last season to secure a return to England’s top flight for the next campaign, while a disappointing 2023-24 La Liga season saw Villarreal drop to eighth place.

Match preview

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Villarreal will miss European football in the 2024-25 campaign as a disappointing 2023-24 season saw them finish eighth in Spain’s top flight, which turned out to be their lowest-ever finish of 2019.

MarcelinoHis side improved a lot in the second half of the season, but a poor first half really cost them, and the Yellow Submarine are expected to challenge for the top six next campaign.

Villarreal will play six friendlies this summer, facing Sion, Saint-Etienne, Nottingham Forest, Borussia Dortmund and Brighton & Hove Albion in the five games after that, before opening their new La Liga campaign at home to Atletico Madrid on August 19.

Yellow Submarine made four signings this summer, the biggest of which turned out to be Willy Kambwalawith the centre-back arriving at the club from Manchester United.

A number of players including Pepe Reina, Alberto Moreno, Etienne Capoue and Francis Coquelinhave been released on free transfers in the meantime, so will have a fresh look at their squad in the coming period.

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Meanwhile, Leicester secured a return to the Premier League for the 2024-25 campaign thanks to their Championship success last term, finishing top of the second tier, one point ahead of second-placed Ipswich Town and seven ahead of Leeds United , in third place.

Enzo Maresca oversaw promotion but the 44-year-old has since taken charge of Chelsea, with Steve Cooper ready to lead the Foxes in the new campaign.

Leicester have five friendlies in their diary, facing Shrewsbury Town, Palermo, Augsburg and Lens before kicking off their new Premier League campaign at home to Tottenham Hotspur on August 19.

The Foxes have made four signings so far this summer, incl Abdul Fatawuwho arrived permanently from Sporting Lisbon after a successful loan spell last term, managing seven goals and 13 assists in 43 appearances in all competitions.

Meanwhile, their biggest departure was Kiernan Dewsbury-Hallwith the 25-year-old after Maresca at Chelsea; Kelechi Iheanacho, Dennis Praet and Mark Albrighton they were also released, but Wilfred Ndidi signed a new three-year contract at the King Power Stadium.

Team news

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Villarreal will be without his services Alex Baena for this match as the 22-year-old has been involved in Spain’s Euro 2024 squad and has therefore not yet returned to pre-season training.

Head coach Marcelino will otherwise have a strong squad to choose from, including Gerard Morenowho was not selected in La Roja’s squad for the European Championship.

Kambwala is expected to make his debut for the Yellow Submarine at the heart of their defence, while Alexander Sorlothwho scored 23 goals in La Liga last season, is likely to lead the line.

As for Leicester, there should be an official debut for Fatawu, while Caleb Okoli, Michael Golding and Bobby De Cordova-Reid are expected to make their first appearances for the club.

Head coach Cooper will want to get a good look at his squad during pre-season, so different XIs are likely to take to the field for each half of Saturday’s pre-season friendly.

Jamie Vardy is preparing for a return to Premier League football at the age of 37 and the Englishman is expected to be in the starting XI for Leicester for this contest.

Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; Foyth, Mandi, Kambwala, Mojica; Comesana, Suarez, Parejo; G Moreno, Sorloth, Akhomach

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Ward; Justin, Souttar, Coady, Okoli; Ndidi, Soumare, Winks; Mavididi, Vardy, Fatawu

We say: Villarreal 2-2 Leicester City

This should be an open and entertaining match as both teams will be able to call upon some exciting attacking players. Leicester’s players will be bidding to impress their new manager, but Villarreal have plenty of quality, so we find it hard to support a defeat for the Yellow Submarine.

There is no information about data analysis

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