This Week's Opposition: Leicester City

A closer look at Portsmouth's next Championship opponent.

Before the recent International break, the Blues were victorious by a goal to nil at Fratton Park against then-unbeaten league leaders Middlesbrough.

John Mousinho’s side now look ahead to Saturday evening for a late kick-off at the King Power Stadium against Leicester City.

MANAGER

Marti Cifuentes is in charge of The Foxes.

Cifuentes has had an extensive managerial career so far, starting out as an assistant with the first team of Sabadell in 2006. He worked at Terrassa and spells in the youth departments at Ajax and Millwall between 2008/09.

His other prior coaching stints include Sandefijord in Norway, AaB in Denmark and Hammarby IF in Sweden.

In October 2023, the Spaniard became head coach of QPR, keeping their Championship status with a 4-0 win over Leeds, after 82 games and a win percentage of 32.98 Cifuentes left the club by mutual consent.

In July of this year, Cifuentes was appointed as new head coach of newly relegated side Leicester on a 3-year-contract taking over from Ruud Van Nistelrooy after 7 months in charge.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch is loanee Jordan James.

After coming through the youth ranks at Birmingham City and playing for their Under-18 and Under-23 squads, James made his senior debut as a 17-year-old in November 2021. He went on to make 105 appearances in all competitions for the club.

The midfielder then made the move to French Ligue 1 club Rennes on a 4-year-deal last August.

James joined Leicester this summer on a season-long loan with the option to buy.

The number 6 also has international minutes under his belt starting at youth level before making the Welsh squad in 2023.

TOP SCORER

Ghanaian international Abdul Fatawu is The Foxes' leading scorer with 3 league goals.

He began his career with Tamale-based club Steadfast FC in the Zone One of the Division One League in the Ghanaian second tier. During his debut season he immediately established himself scoring 8 and assisting 5 in 13 matches. In his second season Fatawu scored 12, made 12 assists in 14 league matches and picked up 8 man of the match awards.

In April 2022, he was signed by Sporting CP playing for both the first team and B team due to his age. Fatawu went on loan to Leicester for the 2023/24 season, getting his first professional hat-trick in a 5-0 home win against promotion rivals Southampton.

The winger made his move to Leicestershire permanent last summer.

CURRENT FORM

The Foxes occupy 3rd in Championship after their most recent away win to Swansea before the international break allowed them to jump 3 places up the table.

Last season, the club finished highest out of the 3 relegated sides from Premier League however were still 14 points away from securing safety in the top flight.

The last time these teams encountered each other was at the end of 2011 as both fixtures that season (2011/12) home and away ended in a 1-1 draw before the turn of the calendar year. Pompey goals from David Norris and David Nugent helped secure those points in a campaign which ultimately ended in relegation for Portsmouth.

With the international break over, can the Blues now come out fighting against another promotion-chasing side?

Join Jake Smith and Kirsty Roxanne LIVE on Express FM from the King Power Stadium from 7pm on Saturday the 18th of October for full coverage of this Championship encounter involving Leicester City and Portsmouth.

Kick-off: 7:45pm!