There is not much separation between Chelsea and Leicester City these days. After 31 rounds in the Premier League, there is only a one point difference between the two teams in third and fourth. The two head-to-head games ended in draws, 1-1 at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season, 2-2 at King Power shortly before the three-month interruption of a still raging pandemic. Leicester doubles Chelsea in terms of goal difference, which breaks my narrative, but so do the recent forms of the two teams, which favors Chelsea.
In any case, a winner must be found this Sunday, overtime and penalties if necessary, as the two face off in the FA Cup quarterfinals. Neither of them will want to hesitate now, almost within reach of a trophy.
Date and Time: Sunday, June 28, 2020, 4:00 p.m. BST; 11 a. M. EDT; 8:30 pm IST
Venue of events: King Power Stadium, Leicester, England
Referee: Mike Dean (in the field); Martin Atkinson (VAR)
Forecast: Sunny but windy, more spring than summer
On TV: BT Sport 1 (UK); none (U.S); Sony TEN 2 (India); SuperSport 3 (NGA); elsewhere
Transmission: BT Sport Live (UK); ESPN + (USA); Sony LIV (India); DStv Now (NGA) – We (WAGNH) have a affiliate link for ESPN + if you’re in the US and want to sign up for the best value on sports streaming (or, if you’re like me, sign up for the Disney-Hulu-ESPN + bundle).
Leicester City Team News: Leicester needed a saved penalty from Kasper Schmeichel to preserve a draw against Brighton on Tuesday, but with just two points from their two games so far at Project Restart, they have been dragged back into the dogfight among the top four. But the FA Cup is a unique knockout game, and the former form often goes out the window then.
Former Chelsea reserve coach Brendan Rodgers has been rotating his squad to keep his midfield fresh, but his only goal since the restart has been a marvelous hit from the left and Chelsea’s transfer goal Ben Chilwell.
To go that far, Leicester has beaten the Wigan Athletic, Brentford and Birmingham City Championship teams, none too strong but all without conceding a goal (combined score 4-0). Long-term injury victims Daniel Amartey (ankle) and Ricardo Pereira (knee) remain out, otherwise they are all available for selection.
View from the enemy: Fosse Posse
Chelsea team news: It’s equally good news for Chelsea in terms of injuries, as only Fikayo Tomori and Callum Hudson-Odoi (probably) stayed out with minor problems, as they have been since the restart.
Chelsea have won four in a row in all competitions, since before the break, including victories over Manchester City and Liverpool champions, who we beat 2-0 in the previous round of this competition. Chelsea also beat Hull City and Nottingham Forest, both of the Championship, in previous rounds.
Previously: This game is a repeat of the 2018 FA Cup quarterfinals, which Conte’s Chelsea won in overtime thanks to a header (!) By Pedro. Of course we would win the trophy that season! Could history repeat itself?
