As the hectic holiday period approaches, a big match looms, pitting the defending Premier League champions against one of the teams they beat out to that surprising triumph, as Leicester City host Manchester City.
Leicester City vs. Manchester City 2016: Time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
The defending EPL champions host a former title rival with a whole lot on the line.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Right now, though, Leicester City are trying to stave off a relegation battle, much like Chelsea did as the defending champions a year ago. Manchester City, meanwhile, are the ones engaged in a title challenge. This match could help swing multiple races in the EPL — it would push Manchester up the table if they win while pulling Leicester closer to a relegation fight — or a Leicester win would threaten to move Manchester out of the race entirely for the time being.
There’s a lot on the line in this match, far more than just pride. Neither team is going to back down, and that will make this a must-watch affair.
TV: NBC (U.S. - NBC English), NBC Universo (U.S. - Spanish), BT Sport 1 (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live (U.S.), BT Sport Live Streaming (U.K.)
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. local
Venue: King Power Stadium, Leicester, England
Three big things to know
- Leicester have made a precipitous fall down the EPL table after winning the league last year, but they didn’t struggle in the Champions League, winning a tricky group in the process. Now with just this league to focus on for a while, Leicester will be hoping to prop up their weak standing in the table — and a victory over Manchester City would be a great way to start them on that path.
- Unfortunately for Leicester, while Manchester’s overall form is a little shaky, their form against teams low in the table is not. In their last five matches against teams in the bottom half, they have four wins and one draw. Leicester will have the home-field advantage, of course, but that’s no guarantee of success against a team as good as City.
- While the likes of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have been very inconsistent this season and not the dominating forces they were a year ago, their struggles have allowed Shinji Okazaki to take a step forward in importance. He’s scored in two of his last four matches for Leicester, and has been generally impressive just about every time he’s stepped on the pitch over the last few months. If he can keep stepping up and help elevate Leicester’s other stars to their previous levels, they’ll be back fighting for places high in the table before you know it.
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