FA Cup Preview: Chelsea vs Leicester City, key stats, line-ups, odds, prediction

Chilwell-Timo Werner-Chelsea

Thomas Tuchel will lead his Chelsea side out this weekend at the Wembley stadium as they take on Leicester City in the mouth-watering FA Cup final on Saturday evening. 

Stadium: Wembley Stadium

Key Statistics

  • Chelsea have scored eleven goals in the FA Cup this season
  • The Blues have conceded only once in the five games they have played till the final.
  • Both teams head into this tie with three wins from their last five games in all competitions (D1, L1).
  • Kelechi Iheanacho and Tammy Abraham are both top scorers in the FA Cup for their sides, each with four goals.
  • The Foxes have scored 12 times in the FA Cup this season. 
  • They faced three Premier League sides on their way to the final.

Chelsea

Thomas Tuchel will play the first of his two cup finals this Saturday. The Blues boss has been an instant hit in London, turning his Chelsea side into a winning machine with huge wins against several football big names.

After winning all the big managerial names and teams, he faced as Chelsea coach, now is the time for him to turn those wins into a trophy. Although he picked up two wins against Pep Guardiola in the past month, he goes into this game on the back of a shock loss against Arsenal in the Premier League.

They will be hoping to avoid becoming the first side since Newcastle (1999) lose consecutive finals. However, in the nine finals, they have played against the Foxes; they have lost none—only against Hull City have they played more finals without losing (11).

Thomas Tuchel, who became the first German manager to lead a team to the FA Cup final, will know to pick up this trophy to truly establish himself as a fan’s favourite. 

The German has confirmed that keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will start in goal ahead of Edouard Mendy. The Spaniard has been the goalie used in the FA Cup for Chelsea this season. 

Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic missed Chelsea’s last nine matches remains sidelined while N’Golo Kante is in a race against time to be fit to face the Foxes.

Possible line-ups 

Kepa Arrizabalaga; Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen; Ben Chilwell, Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho; Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner.

Leicester City

Brendan Rodgers and Leicester City are on the brink of history after reaching their first FA Cup final since 1969.

The Foxes who beat Manchester United and Southampton en route to the final head into this tie with momentum on their side after picking up a crucial win over Manchester United on Tuesday.

With a top-four finish still a huge possibility for them, they will be looking to make the season even more successful by lifting the FA Cup.

Brendan Rodgers, who could become the first manager since Sir Alex Ferguson to win both Scotland and England flagship cup competition, is also looking to write his name into the history books at the King Power with his first trophy in England.

The former Liverpool manager has rebuilt Leicester into an exciting side, but his team has often been accused of bottling it when it matters. This game offers him the opportunity to shed off that tag and truly put him in the elite class of managers alongside the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. 

Defender Johnny Evans is in a race against time to be fit to play, while Harvey Barnes remains sidelined for the rest of the season. 

Possible line-ups 

Kasper Schmeichel; Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu, Wesley Fofana; Timothy Castagne, Ricardo Pereira, Wilfred Ndidi, Youri Tielemans; James Maddison, Kelechi Iheanacho, Jamie Vardy.

Betting Odds

Chelsea : Draw : Leicester City :: 1.90 : 3.50 : 4.20

Chelsea GoalLeicester City GoalBetting Odds
106.50
116.50
008.50
208.50
219.00
0110.00

Prediction

Chelsea 2-1 Leicester City