Match Preview: Watford vs. Leicester City

Match Details
Watford vs. Leicester City
Sky Bet Championship
Vicarage Road
Saturday, February 10, 3 pm Kick-Off
Home Kit: Yellow and Black

Officials:
– Referee: Oliver Langford
– Assistant Referees: Hristo Karaivanov and Richard Woodward
– Fourth Official: Carl Brook

Opposition:
Leicester City is the dominant force in this season’s Sky Bet Championship, positioned for a swift return to the top tier of English football. Enzo Maresca, formerly Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, manages the team. The Foxes lead the table with 72 points, 11 points ahead, having won 23 out of 30 league matches, including a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture at the King Power Stadium in November.

Key Stats:
– Watford has lost 10 of their last 15 league matches against Leicester City.
– Four of Watford’s last six league games ended in draws.
– Leicester leads in away games with the most points, wins, goals scored, and fewest goals conceded.

Team News:
– Valérien Ismaël confirmed everyone is back in training for Watford, with Emmanuel Dennis and Daniel Bachmann available for selection.
– Jeremy Ngakia and Edo Kayembe are not yet fit for the game.
– Leicester City’s Jannik Vestergaard is expected to miss the match due to a muscular injury.
– Wilfred Ndidi and Marc Albrighton will also be absent, while Harry Souttar has returned after Australia’s Asia Cup exit.

Quotes:
Valérien Ismaël, Watford Head Coach:
“We know that we can compete. Now it is about making it difficult and showing our real face.”

Patson Daka, Leicester City Striker:
“Away games are always tough. We have to go in with a different mentality and be ready for a difficult game.”

Head-to-Head:
Overall:
– Wins: 21
– Draws: 18
– Losses: 34

Last Six Encounters:
– November 2023: Leicester City 2-0 Watford (Championship)
– May 2022: Watford 1-5 Leicester City (Premier League)
– January 2022: Leicester City 4-1 Watford (Emirates FA Cup)
– November 2021: Leicester City 4-2 Watford (Premier League)
– June 2020: Watford 1-1 Leicester City (Premier League)
– December 2019: Leicester City 2-0 Watford (Premier League)

Golden Flashback:
A memorable play-off semi-final second-leg at Vicarage Road, with Watford leading 2-1, and the aggregate score level heading into stoppage time.