
LEICESTER will need to bounce back quickly from their League Cup heartache as they welcome Chelsea to the King Power for a game that could prove pivotal in their quest to nail down a Champions League slot.
Having outplayed Aston Villa for most of their semi-final across two legs, Trezeguet's stoppage-time winner for Dean Smith's men was cruel on the Foxes.
Unless they can go further in the FA Cup, where a home tie with Coventry or Birmingham awaits in the last 16, Brendan Rodgers won't have any silverware to show for a hugely impressive campaign.
But sealing a top-four slot in the Premier League will feel like winning a trophy and Leicester head into this game eight points clear of Chelsea in fourth and 14 ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United.
Frank Lampard's side have gone two league games without a victory but did get back to winning ways in the FA Cup last weekend against Hull.
All my tips came up in that cup clash as I returned to one of my favourite bets all season, a Chelsea win with both teams to score.
Given Leicester's exertions in midweek, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a repeat here at 7/2 with Paddy Power.
How the bookies view it
This is a tough one to call and that's reflected in the odds, with Leicester a best 8/5 at Unibet and Chelsea 7/4 with Sportingbet. It was a draw when these sides met at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season and a repeat pays 27/10 at Unibet.
Recent head to head
The King Power has been a happy hunting ground of late for Chelsea who are unbeaten on their last five visits. It was a 0-0 stalemate last season but the Blues won the other four encounters.
Leicester's last home success over the London side came in their title-winning season when goals from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez sealed a 2-1 success (below) in December 2015.
The Foxes have fared better away from home against the Blues, unbeaten on their last three visits to Stamford Bridge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhf-G7hi-fg
Players to watch
Jamie Vardy should return to the Leicester starting line-up, having come off the bench in the cup defeat at Villa. He's 15/13 at Sportingbet for anytime scorer and that's decent value if he starts.
Michy Batshuayi came up trumps for me at Hull last weekend and is 41/20 with Unibet here but I'm not sure if he will start again as Tammy Abraham could play through the pain of his ankle injury.
I fancied Willian for a goal at 17/4 with Unibet but he has been left on the bench so I'll switch to Chelsea winger Pedro at 3/1 with Bet365.
Anything else catch the eye?
Both teams to score came up for me at Stamford Bridge early in the season at odds of 10/11 but it's sadly now only available at a best 4/7 with Bet365.
The last five matches between these sides at the King Power have averaged three goals a game. It was 0-0 here last season but I'd be surprised if there was a repeat.
Backing three match goals pays 31/10 at Sportingbet but I'll play a little safer and go for between two and three goals at 6/5 with BetVictor.
For a long-odds option you could do worse than back Leicester's James Maddison to score from outside the area at 12/1 with William Hill.