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Leicester City vs PSV Eindhoven news: King Power Stadium key to Leicester City taking advantage

Left to right, Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi, Marc Albrighton, James Maddison and Caglar Soyuncu celebrate following the UEFA Europa Conference League round of sixteen first leg match at the

Leicester City host PSV Eindhoven in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals on Thursday bidding to make it five straight wins in all competitions at King Power Stadium.

The Foxes have won six of their last 10 in all competitions and emerged with credit from a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday.

Their recent return to form is in stark contrast to a torrid festive period, in which five of their games were called off because of Covid-19 cases, while injuries to key players has also curtailed their progress.
PSV have fallen four points adrift of leaders Ajax in the Eredivisie title race - they came from 3-0 down to salvage a 3-3 draw away at Twente on Saturday - but are unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions and have scored 38 goals during that run.
Excluding qualifiers, the Dutch giants have won just four of their 10 European games this season.
Leicester have never reached the semi-finals of a UEFA competition before and the winners of this tie will face Bodø/Glimt or Roma in the last four.

When: Thursday 7 April, 2022 (20:00 GMT)

Where: King Power Stadium

How to watch: BT Sport 3 and BT Sport 3 HD

Follow the live updates across Thursday's fixtures via our score centre

Who is the referee for Leicester City v PSV Eindhoven

Slovak referee Ivan Kruzliak will take charge on Thursday for his second Europa Conference League outing of the season.
His first was March's second leg tie between AZ Alkmaar and Bodo/Glimt.
The last match he officiated was a Slovak First Division game between Zilina and Ruzomberok on Friday 1 April, while his most recent red card was issued to Youssouf Fofana of Monaco in their 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in the Europa League back in November last year.

Games refereed by Ivan Kruzliak in 2021/22:

Games 8, yellow cards 57, red cards 4

Assistant referees:

Branislav Hancko SVK
Jan Pozor SVK

Fourth official:

Peter Kralovic SVK

Recent form

Leicester have experienced an uptick in form at the business end of the season after a horror January and February in which manager Brendan Rodgers looked to be under pressure to save his job.
A composed navigation of Rennes in the Round of 16, sandwiched between wins at home against Brentford and Leeds, Rodgers' side will be confident of a positive result.
Last time out, the Midlands side outplayed Manchester United at Old Trafford but had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
PSV are in formidable form, scoring at least three goals in five of their last six games.
However, a 3-3 draw with FC Twente has seen them fall four points behind leaders Ajax in the Eredvisie title race.
PSV have played in every European competition this season: Champions League play-offs, Europa League group stage and now the Europa Conference League knockout stages.

Recent players in form

James Maddison's return to regular action has coincided with Leicester's recent form. He is the Foxes' top scorer with 13 in all competitions.
Patson Daka is Leicester's European specialist, scoring six goals in both the Europa League and Europa Conference League.
PSV have spread their goals around the team, with Mario Gotze, Eran Zahavi, Cody Gakpo and Yorbe Vertessen all in double figures for the season.
They also have five other players on five or more goals.
Ibrahim Sangare is an excellent defensive shield at the base of midfield and was a highlight for Ivory Coast at this year's AFCON.

Past meetings

Thursday's match will mark the first time the two clubs have met in a competitive fixture, while PSV have faced English clubs on 34 previous occasions with the record W10 D9 L15.
Their 17 trips to England have yielded just four wins (D3 L10), with only one in the last 10 (D3 L6) - 1-0 at Tottenham in the first leg of the 2007/08 UEFA Cup round of 16, a tie they won on penalties after losing the second leg by the same score in Eindhoven.

Managers' thoughts

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers told reporters: "The privilege of being the first team to win it is very important.
"I think you just need to name the teams left in it and the history around those teams. I grew up with the European Cup and the UEFA Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup. Traditionally there was three tournaments going as a young guy. Over the coming years it will be taken more seriously."
He said: "We weren't looking to drop down into this competition, we were looking up and to qualify in the Europa League, especially being top of the group.
"To then not qualify was hugely disappointing. However, when you come away and look at it, and the prestigious teams in the competition, there is the opportunity to be the first team to win it."

Predicted teams

Wilfred Ndidi (knee), Danny Ward (knee) and Jamie Vardy (knee) are out for Leicester City, while Ryan Bertrand and Nampalys Mendy are both unregistered for the competition.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could drop back into a deeper position to partner Youri Tielemans, with one of Daniel Amartey or Hamza Choudhury also an alternative.
PSV will be without Erick Gutierrez, who is serving a one-match ban having accumulated three yellow cards.
Marco van Ginkel could be given a start in midfield in his absence, while Noni Madueke and Cody Gakpo are both pushing for starts after impressing as substitutes against Twente.

Leicester City (4-2-3-1): Kasper Schmeichel; James Justin, Wesley Fofana, Jonny Evans, Timothy Castagne; Youri Tielemans, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall; Marc Albrighton, James Maddison, Harvey Barnes; Kelechi Iheanacho.

PSV Eindhoven (4-2-3-1): Joel Drommel; Mauro Junior, Jordan Teze, Oliver Boscagli, Philipp Max; Joey Veerman, Ibrahim Sangare; Noni Madueke, Marco Gotze, Cody Gakpo; Eran Zahavi.

Leicester City vs PSV Eindhoven prediction

PSV's 13-match unbeaten run and outstanding away form - they have not lost on the road this season - gives them the edge on Thursday.
However, Leicester City's recent home form - winning their last four on the bounce and going unbeaten in their last six - brings the draw into the equation.
Both sides have multiple goalscorers and leaky defences so a 2-2 stalemate is on the cards in what could be a classic for the neutrals.
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