Here’s a look at Leicester City’s next five games compared to their promotion rivals in this incredible Championship campaign.
The East Midlanders have faltered of late, suffering defeat in three of their last five fixtures and it has allowed Leeds United to move to the summit.
Enzo Maresca‘s side have a game in hand on the West Yorkshire outfit and they must take full advantage of that.
They have nine cup finals left in this gruelling 46-game slog, so the Italian head coach must find a way to return to winning ways, and fast.
With that said, here are Leicester‘s next five fixtures and how they compare to their competitors.
Leicester City’s next five fixtures
Bristol City (A) – March 29
Another away trip ensues for Maresca’s side, as they face Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Good Friday.
The Robins were hopeful of pushing for a playoff spot this term, but those ambitions don’t appear likely now, as they reside 14 points adrift of sixth.
In fact, they’re actually closer to the drop zone, so they’ll be desperate to increase their eight-point lead on Huddersfield Town, who occupy 22nd.
League position: 14th.
Current form: One win and four defeats.
Previous meeting: Leicester City 1-0 Bristol City – 23rd September, 2023
Norwich City (H) – April 1
Leicester return to King Power Stadium against Norwich City at the start of April and it’ll be their first of six games that month.
They’re up against a Canaries side who sit inside the play-off positions, with every chance of returning to the Premier League after a two-season absence.
League position: 6th
Current form: Three wins, one draw and one loss.
Previous meeting: Norwich City 0-2 Leicester City – 20th September, 2023
Birmingham City (H) – April 6
The Foxes welcome Birmingham City to their 32,000-seater home just five days after hosting David Wagner’s Norwich.
The pair have met twice this term, in the league and in the FA Cup, and across the two clashes, eight goals were netted.
So could it be another goal-flooded affair, here?
League position: 21st.
Current form: Zeoer wins, one draw and four defeats.
Previous meeting: Birmingham City 2-3 Leicester City – 18th December, 2023 (Championship)
Millwall (A) – April 9
The grueling campaign 46-game campaign doesn’t allow for much rest and City will be back in action three days removed from their clash against Birmingham.
They’re up against Millwall at The Den, which is considered one of the toughest fixtures in the league regardless of form at the time.
So the promotion-hopefuls will need to be at their very best.
League position: 16th.
Current form: Three wins, one draw and one defeat.
Previous meeting: Leicester City 3-2 Millwall – 13th December, 2023 (Championship)
Plymouth Argyle (A) – April 12
City are back on the road, again, and travel right down to the south-west of the country to face Plymouth Argyle, who are in real danger of suffering relegation.
The Pilgrims sit just two points above the bottom three and have been in a miserable run of form, so Leicester should be looking to take maximum points here.
In the reverse fixture, The Foxes were rampant and put four past the visitors, with the vast difference of quality between the two side particularly evident.
League position: 18th.
Current form: One win, one draw and three defeats.
Previous meeting: Leicester City 4-0 Plymouth Argyle – 9th December, 2023
Leeds United fixtures
Watford (A) – March 29
Hull City (H) – April 1
Coventry City (A) – April 6
Sunderland (H) – April 9
Blackburn Rovers (H) – April 13
Current form: Four wins and one draw.
Average opposition league position: 11th.
Leeds United have been in scintillating form since the turn of the year, winning nine games on the bounce before that run came to an end against West Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town.
They returned to winning ways since then and are in search of their fourth successive victory against Watford on Friday.
Ipswich Town fixtures
Blackburn Rovers (A) – March 29
Southampton (H) – April 1
Norwich City (A) – April 6
Watford (H) – April 10
Middlesbrough (H) – April 13
Current form: Four wins and one defeat.
Average opposition league position: 10th.
Newly promoted Ipswich Town have been the surprise package of the season as they find themself in an automatic promotion race.
Kieran McKenna’s side have a tough run of fixtures coming up and in this relentless promotion race and they can’t really afford to slip up in any of them.
Our verdict
Rarely have we seen the race for automatic promotion this competitive and of such a high standard.
Incredibly, the top four are all averaging two points per game, or more, which is an average usually enough to secure a place in the top two.
Though this season, as it stands, 98 points won’t be enough to go up automatically, as Ipswich and Leicester are currently projected to amass 99 and 101 points.
The Foxes have a decent run of games and face only one side in Norwich who have a realistic chance of gaining promotion.
Leeds face two play-off hopefuls, one of which is an away game at Coventry City which will be a tough test.
Ipswich have the toughest fixtures of the formidable trio as they face fourth-placed Southampton and have a clash away at fierce rivals Norwich.