Leuvenvs.LeicesterLeicester City

The Foxes, who will open their new Premier League season against Brentford on August 7, have played one friendly this summer, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Notts County on Saturday.

Match preview

Leuven finished 11th in Belgian First Division A last season, picked up 41 points from their 34 matches, boasting a record of 10 wins, 11 draws and 13 defeats.

OHL are now building towards the start of their 2022-23 campaign, already taking part in three friendlies this summer, beating Sporting Charleroi and Beerschot before drawing with Fortuna Sittard on Saturday.

Leuven have been busy this summer in terms of incomings, with Ewoud Pletinckx and Valentin Cojocaru among those to arrive, while a number of players have departed on free transfers ahead of the new season.

As a result, there will be a fresh look to the Belgian side's squad next term, and Marc Brys will be looking to lead the team closer to the playoffs II.

Leicester, meanwhile, opened their preparations for the new campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Notts County at their training ground on Saturday afternoon.

Harvey Barnes sent the Foxes ahead in the 31st minute of the contest, but goals from Kairo Mitchell and Aden Baldwin saw the visitors emerge victorious against Brendan Rodgers's side.

Leicester have now travelled to Evian, with the majority of their first-team players present in the squad, although Kasper Schmeichel is a notable absentee, having been given another week off, while Ryan Bertrand has also not made the trip.

This match will allegedly be 120 minutes long, giving Rodgers the chance to fully utilise his squad, and a busy pre-season schedule will also see them face Hull City, Derby County, Preston North End and Sevilla before opening their 2022-23 Premier League campaign against Brentford on August 7.

The Foxes are yet to make a first-team signing this summer, while there has only been one outgoing - Edin Jakupovic leaving on a free transfer; there is expected to be movement over the next few weeks, though, with Rodgers looking to boost his squad for the 2022-23 campaign.

Leuven Club Friendlies 1 form:

Leuven form (all competitions):

Leicester City Club Friendlies 1 form:

Leicester City form (all competitions):

Team News

Leuven boss Brys will make full use of his squad during the reported 120-minute match, with a number of their new signings expected to be involved on Saturday.

Siebe Schrijvers and Mandela Keita are both expected to miss the contest through injury, but the home side will have a large squad available, including Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson, who could operate in the final third.

Mathieu Maertens and Joao Gamboa are also likely to be in the side for the first whistle.

As mentioned, Leicester will be without the services of Schmeichel and Bertrand for this contest, but there are 31 players in the travelling squad, and the majority of their first-team stars are available for selection.

Rodgers could decide to select a strong side from the start, with Jonny Evans, Wesley Fofana, Wilfred Ndidi, James Maddison and Jamie Vardy all set to feature against Leuven.

Daniel Iversen could be given the nod between the sticks in the absence of Schmeichel, while Youri Tielemans is likely to play a part amid the speculation surrounding his future.

Leuven possible starting lineup:

Cojocaru; Chakla, Dom, Ngawa, Mendyl; Holzhauser, Gamboa, Keita; Al-Taamari, Maertens, Thorsteinsson

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Iversen; Ricardo, Evans, Fofana, Justin; Ndidi, Soumare, Dewsbury-Hall; Maddison; Vardy, Iheanacho

We say: Leuven 1-2 Leicester City

Leuven will provide competitive opposition for Leicester, which is exactly what Rodgers will want at this stage of pre-season. The Foxes have a strong squad available for selection, though, and we are tipping the Premier League side to overcome their Belgian opponents.

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