Leicester City – Birmingham City

The candidate for promotion in the league will take at least one point from Leicester.

The central match of the fourth matchday of the Championship will take place on Friday. Just last season, there was an entire English football division separating the opponents in Leicester. The local club played in the Premier League, trying to secure their place in the elite, while the visiting team aimed to get promoted from League One and reach the Championship. As a result of preparations for the upcoming meeting, the home side failed to achieve their objectives set last year while the visitors succeeded. Leicester City occupied the very bottom position in the Premier League relegation zone but had no chance of remaining in the league, falling thirteen points behind the nearest safe position. Meanwhile, Birmingham set a record in the English Football League, which consists of three divisions, for the most points accumulated in a single season. The 'Blues' secured 111 points in League One and ensured their promotion to the Championship long before the end of the season. Bookmakers have made the home team the favourites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 2.45 on their victory. Leicester City appointed Marti Cifuentes as head coach in mid-summer, giving him the task of returning the 'Foxes' to the Premier League without any transfer reinforcements. The Spaniard signed experienced goalkeeper Asmir Begović for free and also made contracts with several club academy graduates. A number of players left Leicester, but by the end of August, the departure of key players cannot be described as mass exodus. In the three opening rounds, the 'Foxes' did not embarrass themselves, but none of the matches were easy for them. Both victories, over Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton, were achieved with minimal scoring margins, and the defeat to Preston cannot be deemed unfair - 1:2. Despite two wins in three rounds, the 'closeness' of each result to a draw raises some concerns, as none of the previous opponents are serious contenders for notable achievements this season. Birmingham will be the first such club. The 'Blues' aim for a second consecutive promotion in two years. The seven points earned in three rounds affirm their level of ambition. Let’s bet that the visitors will not lose the away contest.