Leicester vs Aston Villa
England – Carabao Cup
Date: Wednesday, 8 January 2020
Kick-off at 20:00 UK / 21:00 CET
Venue: King Power Stadium.
Match preview
There was a time when both sides were among the major force in this competition, winning four times between them in a seven-year spell in the late 1990s.
However, none of them have lifted the trophy since Leicester last did in 2000, while Villa is the only one of them even have made the finals since then, reaching Wembley in 2009-10.
For the third time in a row, then, the first year of the new decade is guaranteed to see at least one of these teams in the final, and it was Leicester who went into last-four tie as redundant favorites to reach the showpiece.
There are good reasons for that too; Fox is 24 points better than their opponents in the Premier League, sitting on champions Manchester City in second place after 21 matches, while Aston Villa are hovering just one place and one point above the relegation zone.
Brendan Rodgers's side have recovered from a serious defeat back-to-back against Man City and Liverpool either side of Christmas to win their last three games in a row, the last a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic to book their place in the FA Cup fourth round.
It is a season that almost worthy of the silver, and Leicester are in a relatively privileged position in that they are capable of full attention to Wednesday's game, with 13 points separating them from runaway leaders Liverpool but a 14-point lead over fifth-placed Manchester United in the Premier League.
Liverpool were the only team to beat Leicester in front of their own fans this season, although this will be their first taste of action at the King Power EFL Cup in 2019-20.
Victory over Newcastle United, Luton Town, Burton Albion and Everton have all come away from home, with a penalty shoot-out is required in both their previous meetings against Premier League opposition.
Aston Villa will be happy if they are able to take back the draw to Villa Park for the second leg, but the sign does not look good for the Dean Smith.
Leicester ran out comfortable 4-1 winners at Villa Park when the two sides met in the Premier League just a month before the contest, and since then the Villans have been beaten by Sheffield United, Southampton, Watford and most recently Fulham, past results throw them out of FA Cup.
A 2-1 win over Burnley on New Year's Day was in enough to lift them out of the relegation zone a bit, but even that result comes at a high cost as Tom Heaton and Wesley both suffered season-ending injuries.
Turf Moor victory was their only win on the road in eight attempts stretching back to October, losing six of them, but they have beaten Premier League opposition away from home in the competition this season.
Indeed, it has become an eye-catching run to the semi-finals for men Smith, an average of four goals per game when they beat Crewe Alexandra, Brighton & Hove Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool to reach the last four.
The latter result should have an asterisk next to it, with Liverpool forced to play their U-23 side for the first team squad are out at Qatar for the Club World Cup, but Villa was still forced to overcome obstacles on several occasions already this term.
Should they do it again then the final against Manchester United or Manchester City could be waiting for them, despite their obvious priority for the remainder of the campaign had to survive in the Premier League.
Leicester City vs Aston Villa Team News
Throughout this competition, Brendan Rodgers has named X is strong so there is no reason that will change here.
In an ideal world, Leicester will rack up a big win make the second leg a formality.
Danny Ward started the weekend's FA Cup tie but regular number one Kasper Schmeichel will be back in goal for this one.
Rodgers has taken many different formations in recent weeks, but they tend to return to their favored 4-1-4-1 for this match.
James Justin has started two of the last three games, but Ricardo Pereira will come back at right back.
Ben Chilwell will continue on the other side.
In the central defender Wes Morgan and Filip Benković start against Wigan but Jonny Evans and Caglar Söyüncü is the first choice and will be reactivated.
In midfield, it will be all the changes from the weekend.
Nampalys Mendy, Hamza Choudhury, Dennis Praet, Marc Albrighton, Demarai Gray and Harvey Barnes scorers will all be back out of the starting XI.
In the middle, Wilfred Ndidi, James Maddison and Youri Tielemans very established as a trio.
Out-wide, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ayoze Pérez, who've both become the destination of late, will be looking to support their main man.
Jamies Vardy has missed the last three games but should be back for this one.
He scored 17 goals this season and netted the winning penalty in the quarter-final shootout.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City Team News
As for Dean Smith's side, they make the 37 mile trip with key players out.
Not ideal.
In goal, Tom Heaton suffer, potentially, a season-ending knee injury in Burnley.
So, they have been heavily linked with a new goalkeeper but, for the time being, with Jed Steer is also out, Ørjan Nyland will continue in goal.
On New Year's Day match at Turf Moor, Dean Smith chose to return five for the first time this season.
When they won 2-1, he is likely to stick with it.
On the right, Frédéric Guilbert will be returned at the expense of Ahmed Elmohamady.
On the other hand, with Matt Targett injured, Neil Taylor will continue to represent.
In the middle, James Chester and Björn Engels started at Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
However, Ezri Konsa, Kortney Hause and star defender Tyrone Mings all be back here.
Mings' return from injury is a huge boost.
In midfield, John McGinn is another headliner when it comes to key players Villa who are out for some time.
So, without him, it is likely to become Marvelous Nakamba and Douglas Luiz in the middle.
Conor Hourihane and Henri Lansbury will be the break up of the weekend defeat cup.
Out-wide, talismanic captain Jack Grealish will be back; He managed eight goals and six assists this season.
On the other hand, Trezeguet will start at the expense of the Jota and Anwar El Ghazi.
In front, Wesley finally ended his goal drought last midweek at Burnley but then also suffered a season ending knee injury.
Villa certainly will be in the market for a center-forward this month, but, in the mean time, the Côte d'Ivoire international Jonathan Kodjia will represent.
Leicester vs Aston Villa Prediction
Leicester had their blushes saved in the previous round of this competition only by a narrow margin. Hosts ahead 2-0 at the break in their quarter-final battle with Everton, only for the Toffees to equalize with two goals of their own posts restart.
However, both Cenk Tosun and Leighton Baines failed to find the back of the net on penalties after, thus handing Foxes tickets to the big four.
On the other hand, Aston Villa march to the semi-finals in style after pulling off an emphatic win 5-0, although on the Liverpool side quite inexperienced and young. It is also worthy to mention that the visitors have enjoyed success only twice in their last five games since winning it.
Piling on even more suffering, the guests have been labeled as one of the worst away side back in the top flight. In sharp contrast, Leicester have stumbled only once at home this season. It was also against table-toppers when himself.
Taking into account that the hosts are unbeaten in their last three meetings with the enemy is here too, relying on Leicester to secure bragging rights in this one.
Furthermore, the Foxes have their scoring boots on at the King Power Stadium, and has scored two or more goals in eight of their past ten games here in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have been too easy to abuse on the road this term. Sadly, they have conceded ten goals from their previous five outings, and yet to keep a clean sheet as well.
To top it off, four of their previous five fixtures h2h here have a high scoring affair. Thus, it is certainly safe to expect over 2.5 goals on the scorecards late Wednesday.
Leicester vs Aston Villa Betting Tips
Leicester to win @ 1.40 (2/5)
Over 2.5 goals @ 1.60 (3/5).
