Leicester City FC faced off against Palermo in a friendly match at the SMH Group Stadium on 26 July 2024, with the game concluding in a narrow 1-0 defeat for the Foxes. The match kicked off at 7:00pm, providing an opportunity for both teams to fine-tune their squads ahead of the upcoming season.
Leicester City adopted a 4-5-1 formation, designed to bolster their midfield while allowing for a solid defensive structure. Mads Hermansen started in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Ricardo Pereira on the right, Conor Coady and Caleb Okoli in central defence, and James Justin on the left. The midfield trio featured Harry Winks, Wilfred Ndidi, and Boubakary Soumare, with Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi occupying the right and left flanks respectively. Patson Daka led the line as the lone striker, tasked with converting any chances that came his way.
The substitutes for Leicester included Danny Ward, Hamza Choudhury, Victor Kristiansen, Jannik Vestergaard, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Kasey McAteer, Luke Thomas, Tom Cannon, Ben Nelson, Will Alves, and Michael Golding.
The match began with an early warning for Leicester as Boubakary Soumare received a yellow card in the sixth minute for a bad tackle, a sign of the physicality that would characterise the encounter. As the first half progressed, both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Leicester's midfield working hard to control possession but failing to penetrate Palermo's resolute defence.
As the teams headed into the break at 0-0, Leicester looked to regroup and find a way to unlock their opponents. The second half saw immediate changes for the Foxes, with Danny Ward replacing Mads Hermansen in goal, signalling a shift in strategy as they sought to assert more control.
However, disaster struck for Leicester in the 60th minute when Palermo capitalised on a defensive mistake, scoring with a right-footed effort that left the Foxes trailing. This goal forced Leicester to chase the game, prompting manager's tactical adjustments.
In a flurry of substitutions in the 71st minute, Leicester introduced Victor Kristiansen for Ricardo Pereira, Jannik Vestergaard for Conor Coady, Bobby De Cordova-Reid for Stephy Mavididi, and Kasey McAteer for Abdul Fatawu. These changes aimed to inject fresh energy into the side and bolster their attacking options.
Despite their efforts, Leicester struggled to find a rhythm, and as the match wore on, they continued to make changes. Luke Thomas came on for James Justin in the 80th minute, followed shortly by Tom Cannon replacing Patson Daka. The introduction of Ben Nelson for Caleb Okoli and Will Alves for Wilfred Ndidi in the 83rd minute was an attempt to add more dynamism to the midfield.
As the match approached its conclusion, Michael Golding replaced Harry Winks in the 90th minute, but Leicester could not find the equaliser they desperately sought. The final whistle blew, confirming a disappointing result for the Foxes, who will need to regroup and reassess their strategies ahead of the new season.
James Justin and Stephy Mavididi were standout performers for Leicester, showcasing their skills and determination throughout the match, but ultimately, it was Palermo who emerged victorious, leaving Leicester with much to ponder as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
