On Thursday night, at 20:00, Leicester and AEK Athens play the last match of Group G of the UEFA Europa League, in a game that no longer matters in the fight for qualification. It will be played, thus, with the guard down, because neither team has anything to lose. That is why we anticipate a pleasant game, in which surprise is not excluded.
Leicester qualified in the European spring “hand in hand” with Sporting Braga, both with 10 points each. Brendan Rodgers’ “foxes” have a goal difference of 12-5, while the Portuguese have a goal difference of 12-10, so Leicester has all the chances to finish first in the hierarchy. On the 3rd place is Zorya Lugansk, who managed 2 victories in the 5 matches played so far (goal average 6-9).
Leicester were at the top of the English hierarchy at one point, but lost ground after playing modestly in games with Liverpool (0-3) and Fulham (1-2). Over the weekend, the white-blues won at Sheffield United (2-1), where they “snatched” the 3 points due to Vardy’s success, in the 90th minute! Ayoze Perez opened the scoring (’24) before McBurnie (’26) equalized for the hosts. In the championship, Leicester is in 4th place and has 21 points, three “lengths” behind the Tottenham leader. It is remarkable that Leicester have not drawn this season yet!
AEK Athens have lost three of their last four official matches, with Zorya Lugansk (0-3), Braga (2-4) and Panathinaikos (1-2). The failure in the derby with the white-greens weighed a bit harder, because the fans of Nedelcearu’s team are not at all satisfied with the last results. Trained by Ladislau Boloni, Panathianikos won with goals from Macheda (’34) and Kourbelis (’45 +2), while AEK retaliated late, through Oliveira (’87). Thus, coach Massimo Carrera needs good results in the near future, to protect his position in Athens. A goal scored by the guests on King Power Stadium has odds 1.63 on esfuna.ro! Also at Fortuna you benefit from Double Bonus and Sansa Bet on your tickets.
In the round, Leicester won in Athens 2-1, after the goals of Vardy (’18) and Choudhoury (’39), a match in which Tankovic scored the honorary goal of the Greeks (’49). We expect once again an open match, with goal phases, because none of the rivals has reasons to defend the draw. The hosts cannot play Amartey, Castagne, Pereira and Soyuncu, important defensive pieces, while AEK Athens comes to the Midlands without Chygrinskyi and Lopes, both injured.
Leicester: Ward – Justin, Morgan, Evans, Thomas – Praet, Ndidi, Chodhoury – Under, Iheanacho, Barnes
Coach: Brendan Rodgers
AEK Athens: Tsintotas – Bakakis, Hnid, Nedelcearu, Lopes – Galanopolous, Simoes, Mantalos – Albanis, Tankovic, Livaja
Coach: Massimo Carrera
They have scored both teams in 7 of the last 8 matches played by AEK Athens;
AEK Athens has not drawn in 10 games and has only one draw in the last 19 matches;
In 8 of AEK Athens’ last 9 matches, at least three goals have been scored;
In 4 of the last 5 matches played by Leicester, at least three goals have been scored;
17 shots were sent in the round, when Leicester won 2-1 away;
PREDICTION: Leicester to win @ 1,35
