Leicester City are preparing for their final match of 2023 as they travel to Cardiff City tonight.
Enzo Maresca’s side have enjoyed a strong back end of the year that has seen them set record-breaking pace at the top of the Championship.
After watching a gut-wrenching relegation from the Premier League unfold, Leicester supporters are now being blessed with some champagne football.
Under the tutelage of Maresca, the Foxes have truly set the second tier alight and at times look untouchable at the top of the division.
Despite seeing three points snatched away from them by Ipswich Town in injury time, Leicester are still six points clear of the Tractor Boys and 14 points above third-place Leeds United.
Ahead of their trip to Cardiff City this evening, the table toppers will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches and the Italian tactician could make one or two changes to freshen up proceedings.
Here is our predicted lineup for the clash against Cardiff…
Leicester City predicted XI vs Cardiff City
Mads Hermansen takes his place in between the sticks. The Danish shot-stopper is yet to be challenged for his spot and the statistics demonstrate why. In 24 Championship matches, he’s kept the third most clean sheets (8) and conceded the fewest number of goals (17).
Although Conor Coady was brought into the side against Ipswich, the 30-year-old could make way for James Justin against Cardiff as Maresca looks to reshuffle his defence with the £30k-a-week star likely to play on the right side.
Wout Faes started as a left-back in that match, however, the Belgian brute will likely move back into the centre alongside Jannik Vestergaard.
The Dane conceded an own goal, though he’s vitally important to how Leicester progress play from the back having made the most accurate passes per game (97.5 – 93%) in the league.
Ricardo Pereira makes up the back four with the Portuguese continuing his role as an inverted full-back who likes to dictate play centrally.
Given the form Leicester are in, we can’t expect too many changes from Maresca who will likely persist with his midfield three of Wilfried Ndidi, Harry Winks and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, though Ndidi could be on his way out of the club in January.
On the right flank, meanwhile, Leicester will want to tie down Abdul Fatawu to a permanent deal following his remarkable performances for the club since arriving on loan from Sporting Lisbon.
After scoring five goals in his last five outings, including the opener against Ipswich, Stephy Mavididi continues on the left and Patson Daka will lead the line once more before jetting off to AFCON next month.
Leicester predicted XI: Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Pereira; Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Mavididi, Daka