Aston Villa did just enough to collect a 2-1 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, bouncing back from a Week 2 loss.
It was East Midlands vs West Midlands, and Villa looked to have a comfortable finish in store after goals from Amadou Onana and Jhon Duran delivered the Villans a multi-goal lead after 63 minutes.
But Facundo Buonanotte scored in the 73rd minute and Jamie Vardy was just offside when fouled for what could’ve been a terrific late chance from the penalty spot.
The Foxes have yet to build on their point earned versus Spurs in Week 1, while Villa have sandwiched wins over West Ham and Leicester around a loss to Arsenal.
Foxes find fight, hope in close loss
Steve Cooper’s men might’ve claimed a point on another day. They’ll feel more good performances are coming as Leicester weren’t terrible at the back and reinforcements are coming to what was a quiet attacking unit. Odsonne Edouard arrived on loan from Palace but wasn’t registered in time for kickoff, and Patson Daka is out through injury. There’s hope for Leicester, at least on the field, to produce a safety run in the Premier League.
Leicester City vs Aston Villa player ratings
(via fotmob.com)
Leicester City vs Aston Villa player ratings (via fotmob.com)
Leicester City vs Aston Villa player ratings (via fotmob.com)
What’s next?
The international break! Then, Leicester go to Palace at 10am ET Saturday (Sept. 14), while Villa host Everton at 12:30pm the same day.
How to watch Leicester City vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: King Power Stadium
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Leicester City vs Aston Villa live updates — By Nick Mendola
Leicester City vs Aston Villa final score: 1-2
Amadou Onana 28', Jhon Duran 63', Facundo Buonanotte 73'
Leicester get a goal off the bench — Leicester City 1-2 Aston Villa (73rd minute)
Super technique from Facundo Buonanotte, who slashes a side volley home after Wilfried Ndidi knocked down a cross.
2-1 with more than a quarter-hour to play.
Super sub strikes soon — Leicester City 0-2 Aston Villa (63rd minute)
Lucas Digne works a 1-2 and zips toward the left corner, where he aims a cross for a man barely into the game.
Jhon Duran peels off his mark and, moving away from goal, turns a header over the line from 14 yards.
Really good from the youngster.
Halftime — Leicester City 0-1 Aston Villa
The Foxes have had quite a bit more of the ball (58%) but Villa have been far more dangerous and the set-piece goal was magic.
GOAL! Leicester City 0-1 Aston Villa (28th minute)
Oh, this is very smart stuff from Unai Emery and his set-piece maestro Austin MacPhee.
Youri Tielemans sells a hard service low, but Jacob Ramsey runs in front of the ball and takes it with good control.
Ramsey works toward the end line then cuts the ball toward the six where Amadou Onana slides the ball over the line.
1-0 to the Villans.
One shot, one injury through 20 minutes
Steve Cooper’s men came ready to fight, and a scrappy affair at the King Power had yet to produce a single shot attempt before John McGinn’s 20th-minute chip sailed wide of the far post.
An injury to Leon Bailey has forced off the Jamaican star. Aaron Ramsey takes his place.
Leicester City vs Aston Villa team news
The Foxes’ Wilfried Ndidi and ex-Spurs duo of Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks will have their work cut-out for them in the midfield against Amadou Onana and the busy, precise Villans. Villa will also hope to get Ollie Watkins back to his best against in-form Wout Faes and the Leicester back line.
Leicester City lineup
Hermansen, Justin, Okoli, Faes, Kristiansen, Winks, Skipp, Ndidi, Ayew, Fatawu, Vardy
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Bogarde, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Bailey, Rogers, Watkins
Leicester City focus, team news
The Oliver Skipp-Harry Winks-Wilfred Ndidi midfield was terrific against Tranmere Rovers, but how it looks against fellow Premier League sides is a big question mark. Jamie Vardy was rested at midweek and will relish the chance to add to one of the Premier League’s historic goal tallies — can he catch Robin van Persie this season?
OUT: Patson Daka (ankle), Jakub Stolarczyk (ankle)
Aston Villa focus, team news
Watkins became a serial 90-minute runner for Villa last season but has been yanked around the hour mark of the first two PL matches this season. If and when he finds his best form is when Villa become an automatic club in fixtures like this one.
OUT: Boubacar Kamara (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee), Matty Cash (thigh)
Leicester City vs Aston Villa prediction
Watkins will figure it out, at least enough, to out-fire Vardy this week. Leicester City 1-2 Aston Villa.
