Championship, in the midweek round the spotlight is on leading Leicester, which is not going through a positive period.
Until a few months ago, in the Champions League, the race for first place seemed abundantly closed. Enzo Maresca’s Leicester had put everyone in line, dominating far and wide and proving to have no rivals in the cadetteria. However, three consecutive defeats in recent weeks were enough to reopen the fight for the top spot, with the Foxes managing to squander a huge lead.
Leicester was also mocked last Saturday by QPR, which got the better of them 2-1 at the King Power Stadium.The domination of ball possession and countless-goal balls were not enough for Maresca’s team to bend the Londoners and turn the tide. The fact of the matter is that now, in order to prevent direct competitors from getting even closer, Vardy and his teammates will have to win at home to Sunderland, a team that has lost its last four games and cannot put its critical moment behind it. This time Leicester will get a positive result but is unlikely to make it to keep their goal inviolate. Also taking the field in the midweek round are Leeds, another relegated Premier League side that is trying to regain the top flight immediately. Daniel Farke’s men, after an away draw with Huddersfield, should get back to winning ways by beating Stoke City, less fearsome away from home: at least three goals total.
Championship: Ipswich Town don’t want to stop
Ahead of Leeds, in second place, is die-hard Ipswich Town, which would be promoted directly to the Premier League today. After the one obtained on Saturday in Plymouth (0-2), it became five consecutive victories for the Tractor Boys, heavily favored in the match with Bristol City. Ipswich at home this year has hardly ever gone wrong, conceding just one defeat at home.
A balanced match is expected between Blackburn and Milwall, two of the great disappointments of this tournament and who due to mixed results ended up fighting not to relegate: a draw is not to be ruled out. Coventry’s goal, on the other hand, is to get back in the playoff race: a win with a resigned Rotherham, which is increasingly last, is mandatory. Since mid-January, Hull City has collected only one defeat, and after two draws with West Bromwich and Preston, it could return to success with Birmingham, which is fifth-last and coming off two bad defeats. Finally, there is a good chance that Sheffield Wednesday, which is second-last but on the upswing (four wins in the last five) will also score against Plymouth.
Championship: possible winners
Blackburn or draw (in Blackburn-Milwall, 8:45 p.m.)
Hull City (in Hull City-Birmingham, 8:45 p.m.)
Sheffield Wednesday or draw (in Sheffield Wednesday-Plymouth, 8:45 p.m.)
Leicester or draw (in Sunderland-Leicester, 8:45 p.m.)
Ipswich Town (in Ipswich Town-Bristol City, 9:00 p.m.)
The matches of at least one goal per team
Blackburn-Milwall, 8:45 p.m.
Sunderland-Leicester, 8:45 p.m.
Championship: matches of at least three goals total
Coventry-Rotherham, 8:45 p.m.
Leeds-Stoke City, 8:45 p.m.
Ipswich Town-Bristol City, 9:00 p.m.
