Chelsea v Leicester – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Chelsea face Leicester in the FA Cup final on Saturday evening at Wembley. 20,000 supporters will be in attendance as Thomas Tuchel looks for his first piece of silverware since taking over at Chelsea. Brendan Rodgers is looking to win The Foxes their first trophy since the league title in 2016 and lead Leicester to their first ever FA Cup success.

Chelsea Form

Chelsea have been in very good form since Thomas Tuchel arrived with 18 clean sheets in 26 matches being the bedrock of their success. Having gone 14 matches unbeaten after taking over, The Blues have lost three of their last 12 in all competitions. With five blanks fired in 17 Premier League matches, scoring goals is still an issue.

The last few results have been a 2-0 home victory against Fulham, a superb 2-0 win against Real Madrid and a 2-1 win at Man City before a shock 1-0 home loss to Arsenal.

Chelsea Team News

Tuchel is hopeful of having Andreas Christensen and Mateo Kovacic fit enough to be involved after hamstring injuries. In goal, the coach has confirmed that Kepa Arrizabalaga will start over first choice Edouard Mendy, weakening the side.

N’Golo Kante and Antonio Rudiger will return to start after full rests against Arsenal. The big question is over which of Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic start in attack alongside certain selections, Timo Werner and Mason Mount.

Chelsea Motivation

Chelsea will be very eager to win a trophy and lift the FA Cup but Tuchel is still going to stick with his agreement to start Kepa in goal. The Champions League and a top four finish are higher priorities but the resting of Kante, Rudiger and Werner against Arsenal showed the importance being attached to this match.

The Blues will play their usual formation and style but won’t want this to go to extra time with a league match against the same opponents to play on Tuesday.

Leicester Form

Leicester have lost three of their last seven Premier League matches as they have a late-season dip like they did last year. Defeats to Man City and West Ham were followed by two wins before two more setbacks. Despite facing ten men for 80 minutes at Southampton, they only drew 1-1 before a 4-2 home defeat to Newcastle.

On Tuesday, Leicester won 2-1 away at Man Utd’s second string team in a match where they looked tired and a little flat.

Leicester Team News

Leicester remain without long-term injury victims James Justin and Harvey Barnes for this match as left back and left wing respectively. Jonny Evans is a major doubt for this match and may play on painkillers as this could be his last chance to feature in a cup final. Should he miss out, then Timothy Castagne in the back three or as a narrow fullback.

Further forward, Rodgers is expected to recall James Maddison as the number ten in preference to Ayoze Perez, with Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho as a front two.

Leicester Motivation

Leicester will be hugely motivated to win their first ever FA Cup and many of these players have never won a trophy in England. However, judging by their relief and reaction to winning at Old Trafford last week, the top four may be a top concern.

Should the match go to extra time, then guys like Vardy are surely not going to be asked to play two hours of football with a league match against Chelsea on Tuesday. Rodgers may have seen Arsenal play very defensively to beat Chelsea on Wednesday and follow a similar plan, using Vardy’s pace on the counter.

Key Stats

Chelsea have kept 18 clean sheets in their last 26 matches

Chelsea have lost 3 of their last 12 matches in all competitions

Chelsea have seen under 2.5 goals in 19 of their last 22 matches in all competitions

Chelsea have won just 1 of their last 6 matches against Leicester

The Foxes have lost 3 of their last 7 PL matches

Leicester have conceded 10 goals in their last 6 PL matches

Leicester have lost just 1 of their last 11 away PL matches (W5, D5)

Prediction

Chelsea are undoubtedly the favourites for this match. However, with the distraction of a Champions League final, lots of fatigue in the squad and the curious decision to start Kepa in goal (as confirmed by Thomas Tuchel), Leicester may be best value to lift the trophy.