AFC Bournemouth are looking to resume winning in the FA Cup, when they meet with Leicester City, to enter the next round. Coming into this match, these two teams have actually had a dominating win during the fourth round. Bournemouth is coming into this game from a 5-0 win against Swansea, proving they are one of the top teams in the contest. This is far different from Bournemouth‘s third round, where they had a thrilling match on that round. Meanwhile, for Leicester, they had a dominating 3-0 win against Birmingham. Leicester‘s third round is the same as their opponent, ending in a 3-2 win for them, but is enough to bring them in the next round. The meeting between these two teams is on February 28, 2024, at 3:30 AM (GMT+8).
AFC Bournemouth
Bournemouth, a Premier League club, will face Leicester in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The Cherries, who have won their last three matches against Leicester, have a five-game winless run, including a 1-0 loss to Man City. They have been in a strong position, having won their last three matches against Leicester, all of which have been in the Premier League. Bournemouth’s next three matches are against the bottom three – Burnley, Sheffield United, and Luton Town. They are confident of claiming points in the coming weeks, but their immediate focus is on booking a spot in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. The Cherries have won each of their last three matches against Leicester, all of which have been in the Premier League.
Bournemouth will have Philip Billing available after a suspension. However, Ryan Fredericks, Tyler Adams, James Hill, Lloyd Kelly, and Max Aarons are out due to injury. Head coach Iraola will make changes, with Mark Travers, Alex Scott, Dango Ouattara, and Luis Sinisterra in line.
Leicester City
Leicester, a Premier League club, will face Bournemouth in the first-ever FA Cup meeting, aiming to secure a return to the Premier League. The Foxes currently hold the top spot in the Championship table with a record of 25 wins, three draws, and six losses from 34 matches. However, Leicester has struggled in the last two matches, losing 2-1 to Middlesbrough and 3-1 to Leeds. The Foxes have faced Millwall and Birmingham in the FA Cup, but have suffered back-to-back defeats in the EFL Championship. In their next league game with QPR, they will be pressured to bounce back in their next league game. Leicester’s recent defeats in the EFL Championship and away match against Leeds United have also been disappointing. Wout Faes gave Leicester an early lead, but Leeds managed to score three goals in the 80th minute.
Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy are out with leg injuries. Meanwhile head coach Maresca is expected to reward those who have impressed in the competition. Big changes are expected, with Jakub Stolarczyk starting, Dennis Praet, Conor Coady, Marc Albrighton, Callum Doyle, Ben Nelson, Brandon Cover, and Yunus Akgun.
Prediction:
AFC Bournemouth (1.5)
Odds: -0.86
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