Leicester City welcomed QPR to the King Power Stadium on 11 January 2025 for a thrilling cup tie that ended in a resounding 6-2 victory for the home side. The match, which kicked off at 2:00pm, showcased Leicester's attacking prowess and tactical superiority, leaving the visitors reeling in the wake of a dominant performance.
Leicester City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide both defensive solidity and attacking flair. Jakub Stolarczyk took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of James Justin and Victor Kristiansen as the right and left defenders, with Conor Coady and Wout Faes occupying the central defensive roles. In midfield, Boubakary Soumare and Harry Winks were tasked with controlling the tempo and linking play, while Facundo Buonanotte, Bilal El Khannouss, and Stephy Mavididi formed a dynamic attacking trio behind lone striker Jamie Vardy. The substitutes for Leicester included Oliver Skipp, Patson Daka, Jordan Ayew, Kasey McAteer, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
The match began with Leicester asserting their dominance early on, and it took just eight minutes for them to break the deadlock. James Justin scored from a set piece, converting a free kick delivered by Facundo Buonanotte with his right foot, sending the home crowd into raptures. However, the joy was short-lived as Harry Winks made a costly mistake just ten minutes later, misplacing a pass that allowed QPR to equalise with a stunning long-range strike, also in the 18th minute.
Despite the setback, Leicester responded positively, and in the 35th minute, Stephy Mavididi restored their lead, finishing off a well-worked move with a precise right-footed shot, assisted by Bilal El Khannouss. Just three minutes later, Leicester doubled their advantage when Facundo Buonanotte headed home another assist from El Khannouss, showcasing the home side's attacking fluidity.
As the first half drew to a close, Winks found himself in the spotlight again, as another misplaced pass led to QPR's second goal, scored just before the half-time whistle. The teams went into the break with Leicester leading 3-2, but the momentum was clearly in their favour.
The second half began with Leicester looking to extend their lead, and they did just that in the 51st minute when Jamie Vardy converted a penalty with his right foot, following a foul in the box. The introduction of substitutes at the hour mark saw Oliver Skipp, Patson Daka, and Jordan Ayew come on, injecting fresh energy into the Leicester side.
In the 63rd minute, James Justin added his second goal of the match, finishing a well-crafted team move with a right-footed shot, assisted by Daka. Leicester's dominance was further emphasised when Wout Faes capped off the scoring in stoppage time with a spectacular long-range effort, sealing a comprehensive 6-2 victory.
The match not only highlighted Leicester City's attacking capabilities but also showcased their resilience in bouncing back from adversity. James Justin's standout performance earned him the accolade of Player of the Match, as he played a pivotal role in both defence and attack. The result sends a clear message to their cup rivals as Leicester City march on in the competition with confidence.
