Leicester City FC faced off against Augsburg in a friendly match at the Illerstadion on 3rd August 2024, with the German side emerging victorious with a scoreline of 1-0. The match kicked off at 2:30pm, providing both teams an opportunity to fine-tune their squads ahead of the competitive season.
Leicester City adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, which saw Mads Hermansen in goal, flanked by a back four comprising James Justin on the right, Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes in central defence, and Victor Kristiansen on the left. The midfield duo of Harry Winks and Wilfred Ndidi was tasked with controlling the centre of the park, while Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi operated as right and left attacking midfielders, respectively. Bobby De Cordova-Reid played centrally behind the lone striker, Patson Daka, who was expected to lead the line and convert chances into goals.
The substitutes for Leicester included Kasey McAteer, Caleb Okoli, Conor Coady, Ricardo Pereira, Hamza Choudhury, Boubakary Soumare, Ben Nelson, Tom Cannon, and Will Alves, providing depth and tactical options for the manager.
The match began with both teams probing for weaknesses, but it was Augsburg who struck first. In the 10th minute, they took the lead with a well-executed header, leaving Leicester's defence momentarily stunned. The goal served as a wake-up call for the Foxes, who began to assert themselves more in the midfield, with Winks and Ndidi working diligently to regain control.
As the first half progressed, Leicester struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Augsburg's defence holding firm. The half concluded with the score at 1-0, prompting Leicester to regroup and strategise during the interval.
The second half saw Leicester make a series of substitutions to inject fresh energy into the team. In the 61st minute, Kasey McAteer replaced Stephy Mavididi, while Caleb Okoli came on for Wout Faes, and Conor Coady took the place of Jannik Vestergaard. These changes aimed to bolster Leicester's attacking options and defensive solidity.
Despite the changes, Leicester found it challenging to break down Augsburg's resolute defence. In the 74th minute, Ricardo Pereira entered the fray for Victor Kristiansen, and Hamza Choudhury replaced Bobby De Cordova-Reid, as Leicester sought to increase their attacking threat.
The substitutions continued, with Boubakary Soumare coming on for Harry Winks, and Ben Nelson replacing Abdul Fatawu in the 78th minute. Tom Cannon then took over from Patson Daka, as Leicester pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages of the match.
In the 83rd minute, Will Alves was introduced for Wilfred Ndidi, as Leicester City desperately sought to find a way back into the game. However, despite their best efforts and a flurry of attacking play, they were unable to find the back of the net.
As the final whistle blew, Augsburg celebrated their narrow victory, while Leicester City were left to ponder their missed opportunities. The match served as a valuable exercise for both teams as they prepare for the challenges ahead in the upcoming season.
