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Europa League | Group Stage
Dec 3, 2020 at 5.55pm UK
Slavutych-Arena
Leicester logo

Luhansk
1 - 0
Leicester

Sayyadmanesh (84')
Cigaņiks (32'), Nazaryna (74')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Pereira (42'), Iheanacho (45+1'), Mendy (58'), Fofana (87')

Preview: Zorya Luhansk vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Zorya Luhansk and Leicester City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Leicester City make the trip to Ukraine to take on Zorya Luhansk having already booked their place in the Europa League last 32.

However, ahead of facing the bottom-placed side in Group G, the Foxes still require three points to guarantee top spot.


Match preview

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers pictured in November 2020© Reuters

The first half of Group G could not have gone any better for Leicester, who scored nine goals and conceded just one during three successive wins.

However, the Foxes had to show another side of their game at Braga last Thursday, relying on an outstanding performance from Kasper Schmeichel before Jamie Vardy's last-gasp equaliser sealed a share of the spoils.

That goal marked the third time that Leicester had levelled the score in Portugal, but the physical and mental effort required in that fixture seemed to hinder Brendan Rodgers's side against Fulham on Monday evening.

The Cottagers were deserving of their 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium, and that result has extended Leicester's run without success to three matches in all competitions.

With qualification already assured, Rodgers must now decide whether to risk naming a weakened side in Ukraine, aware that it could backfire with regards to ending the group in first place.

Luhansk were brushed aside with minimal effort in the reverse fixture at the King Power Stadium, their first of three defeats in a row in Group G.

However, against all the odds, Luhansk rallied to see off AEK Athens by a 3-0 scoreline last week, keeping their hopes of an unlikely last-32 berth alive.

Although a number of results would need to go their way, Viktor Skrypnyk will feel that his players are in the right frame of mind to record one of the most notable results in their history.

Despite putting together an eight-match unbeaten streak in the Ukrainian top flight, Luhansk still sit down in eighth position.

Zorya Luhansk Europa League form: LLLW
Zorya Luhansk form (all competitions): LDLDWW

Leicester City Europa League form: WWWD
Leicester City form (all competitions): WWWLDL


Team News

Leicester City full-back Ricardo Pereira pictured in March 2020© Reuters

Rodgers revealed last week that Ricardo Pereira and Wilfred Ndidi could make their return from injuries in this fixture.

The Foxes boss is expected to rest many of the players who started against Fulham, potentially leaving a couple of his star men in the East Midlands.

However, neither Caglar Soyuncu or Timothy Castagne are likely to be risked in this game, leaving them to focus on earning a start against AEK next week.

Luhansk will be unable to call upon Vitalii Vernydub due to suspension, leaving Lovro Cvek and Joel Abu Hanna to feature in the centre of defence.

Only five of the Luhansk squad have started the previous four European games and more changes could be made on Thursday night.

Zorya Luhansk possible starting lineup:
Shevchenko; Favorov, Cvek, Hanna, Ciganiks; Yurchenko, Ivanisenya, Kochergin; Kabaev, Lunev, Gromov

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Pereira, Morgan, Evans, Thomas; Mendy, Choudhury; Perez, Praet, Albrighton; Iheanacho


SM words green background

We say: Zorya Luhansk 2-2 Leicester City

Given their demanding schedule, do not expect Rodgers to play a full-strength side on Thursday evening. However, the Foxes should have enough to claim a share of the spoils against opponents who must push for maximum points, likely leaving space at the back.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data


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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Leicester City win with a probability of 56.53%. A win for Zorya Luhansk had a probability of 21.85% and a draw had a probability of 21.6%.

The most likely scoreline for a Leicester City win was 1-2 with a probability of 9.84%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 0-1 (8.57%) and 0-2 (8.5%). The likeliest Zorya Luhansk win was 2-1 (5.75%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (9.92%). The actual scoreline of 1-0 was predicted with a 5% likelihood.


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Group A

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4Backa Topola60151

Group B

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QBrighton641113
QMarseille632111
3Ajax61235
4AEK Athens61144

Group C

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QRangers632111
QSparta Prague631210
3Betis63039
4Aris Limassol61144

Group D

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QAtalanta642014
QSporting Lisbon632111
3Sturm Graz61144
4Rakow61144

Group E

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QLiverpool640212
QToulouse632111
3Union SG62228
4LASK61053

Group F

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QVillarreal641113
QRennes640212
3M. Haifa61235
4Panathinaikos61144

Group G

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QRoma641113
3Servette61235
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Group H

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3Molde62137
4Hacken60060


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