Craig Shakespeare has made a decent start to his term at the King Power as he has managed to take maximum points from the games he has been in charge at the club. But he faces his biggest test yet when he takes Leicester City into the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League this week. The Foxes managed to secure a crucial away goal in the first leg against Spanish side Sevilla and can go into next round if they manage to get a positive result.
However, in their first CL game under their new manager, they will face a Jorge Sampaoli side that has been in decent form this season. The Leicester City manager will hope that his home conditions can lift the side and will go with his strongest lineup, for what could be their most important game this season. Here is the predicted lineup that the Foxes might field for this tie:
Team News:
The manager has no issues to worry about ahead of this game as he has a full fit squad to chose from.
Expected lineup (4-4-2)
GK – Kasper Schmeichel:
The first choice shot-stopper for the Foxes, Schmeichel has been dependable this season to an extent and he will hope to have an easy game this week against Sevilla.
RB – Danny Simpson:
After a decent opting against the Tigers, Simpson will be full of confidence and will need to be at his best to contain a fluid Sevilla attack on the night.
CB – Wes Morgan:
The center back for Leicester City had a solid game at the back against the Spanish opposition in the first leg and will hope to put in a similar performance at the King Power this week.
CB – Robert Huth:
Though not at his best recently, Leicester will need him to partner Wes Morgan at the back and will need the pair to be at their best if they are to take anything from this game.
LB – Christian Fuchs:
Another player who has failed to find consistency this season, Fuchs who was on target in the win over Hull, is still the first choice left-back for Shakespeare and he needs to prove his worth in this crunch tie.
RM – Riyad Mahrez:
The Algerian winger was also back on the scoresheet against the Tigers and if he can continue his form, the Foxes can march quietly into the next round.
CM – Danny Drinkwater:
The cover for the back-4, Drinkwater has also been in decent form off late and the manager will hope that he can weave his magic in the midfield for Leicester.
CM – Onyinye Ndidi:
The replacement for N Golo Kante, atleast since Shakespeare took over, Ndidi had two decent outings against Liverpool and Hull City and should be ready for this knockout clash.
LM – Marc Albrighton:
One of the best player on the pitch for Leicester City in the win over Hull, Albrighton is looking back to his previous best and will surely be a handful for the traveling Spanish side on the night.
ST – Jamie Vardy:
The man of the match without scoring a goal against the Tigers, Vardy scored the away goal for Leicester in the 1st leg and will hope to reproduce his form from the last two league games to take his side into the next round.
ST – Islam Slimani:
Having got a few minutes under his belt in the game against Hull, Slimani should be brought in to partner Vardy in a 4-4-2 formation.
This is how they would lineup: