Leicester City vs Braga Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

Leicester City host Portuguese outfit Braga at the King Power Stadium on Thursday night, with both sides out to maintain their perfect starts to their respective Europa League campaigns.

The two sides are already six points better off than their group rivals Zorya Luhansk and AEK Athens, and both look to be all but qualified for the knockout rounds already.

Here's 90min's preview of the clash.

Where to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? November 5th 2020
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:00 (BST)
Where Is it Played? King Power Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? BTSport 2

Team News

Jamie Vardy has started Leicester's last two matches but is surely in need of a breather as he works his way back to full fitness following injury. Kelechi Iheanacho could be called upon as Vardy’s replacement for this one.

Mass changes are not expected in what is a pivotal game in the group for the Foxes, though the likes of James Maddison, Cengiz Under and Wes Morgan will be hopeful of earning a recall after impressive performances in the competition so far.

Brendan Rodgers has fielded three at the back in recent matches but may be tempted to go with a flat back four against Braga, who tend to operate in a 4-4-2 system.

Ricardo Horta and Paulinho are Carlos Carvalhal's go-to men up top, with the latter scoring an impressive six goals in the Europa League from just eight shots on target since the start of the 2019/20 season.

Elsewhere, Nicolas Gaitan is likely to get the nod in midfield alongside the more defensive-minded Fransergio, who could have his work cut out against an energetic City side.

Predicted Lineups

Leicester City: Schmeichel; Justin, Fofana, Morgan, Fuchs; Choudhury, Mendy; Under, Perez, Albrighton; Iheanacho.

Braga: Matheus; Esgaio, Viana, Silva, Carmo; Moura, Castro, Fransergio, Gaitan; Horta, Paulinho.

Recent Form

Leicester have certainly found their stride in recent weeks, having won four games on the spin in all competitions. Brendan Rodgers’ side kicked off their latest European adventure with a 3-0 win over Zorya Luhansk and followed that up with an equally impressive 2-1 win in Athens.

Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans struck twice in Monday's 4-1 win over Leeds United as the Foxes climbed into second place in the Premier League, within a point of leaders Liverpool.

Balancing European commitments with a packed domestic fixture list is going to be difficult, but Leicester seem to be using the quick turnaround in games to their advantage and advancing from Group G in the soonest time possible is the target for Rodgers. His side can take a massive stride towards the last 32 with another victory on Thursday.

Braga enter this match on a six-game winning run in all competitions, though, most recently grinding out a 1-0 win over Famalicao through Bruno Viana's late goal. The win moved Braga up to third in the Primeira Liga, four points off Sporting CP after six rounds of fixtures.

The Portuguese outfit are regulars in the Europa League and reached the final in 2011, though they have not advanced past the first knockout stage in the last four attempts.

Carvalhal is tasked with making it fifth time lucky and, on the basis of their first two games, Braga will fancy their chances of a run deep into the competition this time around.

Here’s how the sides have fared in their last five outings:

Leicester

Leeds 1-4 Leicester
AEK Athens 1-2 Leicester
Arsenal 0-1 Leicester
Leicester 3-0 Luhansk
Leicester 0-1 Aston Villa

Braga

Braga 1-0 Famalicao
Luhansk 1-2 Braga
Guimaraes 0-1 Braga
Braga 3-0 AEK Athens
Braga 2-1 Nacional

Prediction

Leicester, who beat Porto 1-0 four years ago in their only previous home match against Portuguese opposition, enter this match as the favourites.

The Foxes have been in fine form of late and look to be taking the Europa League very seriously, with a famous European run the aim for Rodgers.

Braga have themselves looked very good in recent weeks, though, winning six matches on the spin in all competitions, and we can see the points being shared in this one.

Prediction: Leicester City 2-2 Braga.