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Leicester City vs Chelsea | FA Cup Preview

After breezing past some lower league sides, Leicester City will have their first real test in the FA Cup as they welcome defending Premier League champions Chelsea to the King Power Stadium.  The Foxes have outscored their opponents 8-1 in the first three rounds, including a big 5-1 win over Peterborough.  They’ll hope that they can carry their lower league form over to their match against Chelsea and push them to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Chelsea are coming off a crushing elimination in the Champions League against Barcelona.  After being sent packing in one competition already this week, Antonio Conte will be desperate to go through in the FA Cup.  Luckily. Leicester lack a certain Lionel Messi, so the Blues will hope they can use their talent and not go out of a second competition in a week.

Team News

Leicester will be without Daniel Amartey, but they will have the rest of their squad available to be selected, according to Physioroom.com.

Chelsea will be without David Luiz and Ross Barkley with an ankle and a hamstring injury but will have everyone else available, according to Physioroom.com.

Key Players

Leicester City: Jamie Vardy

Leicester City have pushed up the table after a slow start to the season and much of that is due to the form of Vardy.  He has scored six goals in his last eight appearances, including the Foxes’ only goal against Sheffield United in the last round of the FA Cup.  Chelsea have struggled to score at times this season, so a goal or two from Vardy could be enough to send Leicester through to the semi-finals.

Chelsea: Eden Hazard

Chelsea have struggled to create offense at times this season, and their goal scoring problems have been amplified by the struggles of big summer signing Alvaro Morata, but they do still have Hazard.  The Belgian routinely shows why he is considered one of the best players in the Premier League.  He’s Chelsea’s leading scorer in the league despite not being a striker and has carried the Blues at times this season.  If Morata and Giroud continue to struggle, they may need Hazard to carry them through this rough patch again.

Prediction

Leicester are probably the toughest team outside of the big six left in the cup, but they’ll be hard-pressed to stay in it past this weekend.  After their disappointing loss in the Champions League, Chelsea will want to avoid letting their season peter out.  They will likely come out looking to put Leicester to the sword and there is only so much they an do if that happens.

Prediction: 2-1 Chelsea

thejerseyfitz
thejerseyfitz
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