The Bluebirds remain at the Cardiff City Stadium as they host top of the table Leicester City.
The Opposition:
Enzo Maresca has revolutionised Leicester this season. After The Bluebirds late heartbreak at the King Power Stadium earlier on in the season, The Foxes have come on leaps and bounds. Leicester come into this fixture eight games unbeaten with this run of form proving the power they hold in this division. The Foxes hold the best away record in the division as they have only lost once on the road this season.
Maresca follows the philosophy of Juego de Posicion or Positional Play, popularised by Guardiola. The philosophy aims to find the 'free man' by creating overloads within a specific zone of the pitch. Achieving this allows teams to keep possession and move up the pitch, and when done successfully ensures the creation of numerical overloads as well as overloads in quality. Considering Leicester City are likely to dominate possession in the Championship, adopting this approach provides the best chance for the Foxes to control and win matches by pinning back the opposition and breaking them down with wave after wave of attacks.
Leicester sit six points clear at the top of the Championship table ahead of kick-off.
The Bluebirds:
Cardiff were forced to work for a point against Plymouth Argyle on Boxing Day. In attack, their seemed to be no problems for The Bluebirds, as they were free flowing and looking a threat against Argyle, however, defensively Cardiff found themselves in trouble, in particular down the flanks, something they will have to improve against the impressive pair of Mavididi and Fatawu.
Cardiff are unlikely to have much of the ball, but as proved in the first game between these two sides, this Cardiff side can push Leicester to their limits and frustrate The Foxes, something they will look to do once again with an aggresive press and low block.
Team News:
Cardiff City - Ugbo, O'Dowda and Ramsey all remain out. Etete expected to be available despite struggling with a knock against Plymouth.
Leicester City - Dennis Praet is back available for The Foxes. Albrighton, Vardy, McAteer and Marcal out. James Justin back in contention after being rested against Ipswich.
Preferred XI:
GK - Jak Alnwick
RB - Perry Ng
RCB - Dimitrios Goutas
LCB - Mark McGuinness
LB - Jonathan Panzo
CDM - Manolis Siopis
LCM - Joe Ralls
RCM - Ryan Wintle
RW - Yakou Meite
LW - Karlan Grant
ST - Kion Etete
Prediction:
Cardiff City 0-3 Leicester City
I see it being a long evening for The Bluebirds. Cardiff just aren't in the position to compete with the quality in depth that Leicester have. I see it perhaps being a cagey first half an hour, then Leicester's quality will shine through
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