Leicester City 1-0 Leeds United
Leicester City moved back into the top half of the table on Saturday as Harvey Barnes scored the only goal of the game to beat Leeds United.
Premier League: Leicester vs Leeds was the first game of the post Marcelo Bielsa era for the Whites, and under new boss Jesse Marsch Leeds looked compact in defence and dangerous in attack. But the Foxes are always lethal on the break and when Barnes scored against the run of play, mid way through the second half, the game was up for the Yorkshire side.
The pre-match Leicester City vs Leeds United betting oddsbacked a home win and so it turned out to be, but it was more of a case of what might have been for the new look Leeds, who ended the game just two points above the drop zone.
Highlights of the game
At the start of the Marsch era Leeds performed like an impressive outfit for much of the game and had the better of the chances until Barnes struck just after the hour. In the first half Jack Harrison brought a great save from Kasper Schmeichel and Junior Firpo had a shot blocked, but there were also warning signs for Leeds too. The return of Jamie Vardy has brought the Mojo back to the King Power Stadium after he scored on his return at Burnley in midweek, and he linked up well with Barnes for the first hour until Brendan Rodgers brought him off to protect his hamstring.
And just before half time Leeds had an almighty scare when Wilfred Ndidi met a corner with a thumping header, Illan Meslier failed to collect but grabbed the ball at the second chance as the Foxes’ strikers prepared to pounce.
Leeds started the second half in the ascendency, with Brazilian winger Raphinha tormenting the Leicester defence and Leicester keeper Schmeichel saved his team twice in two minutes. First he reacted quickly to keep out a Rodrigo header and then, on 60 minutes the keeper produced a world class save. Firpo sent a teasing ball across the six yard box and Raphinha looked ready to tap in but the Danish stopper, watched by his dad Peter, threw himself across the goal-line to save.
It was a truly brilliant piece of work from Schmeichel and it seemed to be the turning point as, just seven minutes later the Foxes struck. Even before then Leeds had a penalty shout when a cross appeared to hit Marc Albrighton’s arm, but as the Leeds bench still were still complaining the hosts broke away to devastating effect.
Leicester’s brave rearguard paid off handsomely as Barnes took a pass from Kelechi Iheanacho and slid the ball past Meslier into the corner. The KingPower crowd went wild and Marsch could hardly believe his eyes.
The Leicester City vs Leeds United highlightswill be high up on the schedulers’ list this weekend after an entertaining end to end affair, but that will be little consolation to Marsch and his band of players who huddled together at the end of the game in a show of unity, which they will certainly need for the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign.
Key statistics
Barnes’ goal made it four in four games against Leeds; the Whites must be sick of the sight of him. His goal was the first shot Leicester had in the second half, by which time Leeds had fired eight on Schmeichel’s goal.
Marsch can’t fault his team’s effort, with 48 per cent of the ball, and 19 shots to the Foxes’ seven; but with four on target each this was always going to be a tight game.
Leeds were 3-0 down at the break in their last two games so this was a marked improvement in defence against a strong attacking side.
What’s next?
The action just keeps on coming for SBOTOP footballfans as battles at the top and bottom of the Premier League continue to rage. The picks of the weekend matches to follow are the basement scuffle between Norwich City and Brentford on Saturday afternoon and the Sunday Manchester Derby at the Etihad.
Elsewhere in Europe two title chasers in Serie A face off on Sunday when Napoli host AC Milan, while La Liga leaders Real Madrid host top four hopefuls Real Sociedad.
Leeds United are in action again when they entertain Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa on Thursday while the Foxes have a week off before they take a trip to North London to face upwardly mobile Arsenal on Sunday.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
