Preview: Zorya Luhansk vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Leicester City make the trip to Ukraine to take on Zorya Luhansk having already booked their place in the Europa League last 32.

However, ahead of facing the bottom-placed side in Group G, the Foxes still require three points to guarantee top spot.

Match preview

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The first half of Group G could not have gone any better for Leicester, who scored nine goals and conceded just one during three successive wins.

However, the Foxes had to show another side of their game at Braga last Thursday, relying on an outstanding performance from Kasper Schmeichel before Jamie Vardy's last-gasp equaliser sealed a share of the spoils.

That goal marked the third time that Leicester had levelled the score in Portugal, but the physical and mental effort required in that fixture seemed to hinder Brendan Rodgers's side against Fulham on Monday evening.

The Cottagers were deserving of their 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium, and that result has extended Leicester's run without success to three matches in all competitions.

With qualification already assured, Rodgers must now decide whether to risk naming a weakened side in Ukraine, aware that it could backfire with regards to ending the group in first place.

Luhansk were brushed aside with minimal effort in the reverse fixture at the King Power Stadium, their first of three defeats in a row in Group G.

However, against all the odds, Luhansk rallied to see off AEK Athens by a 3-0 scoreline last week, keeping their hopes of an unlikely last-32 berth alive.

Although a number of results would need to go their way, Viktor Skrypnyk will feel that his players are in the right frame of mind to record one of the most notable results in their history.

Despite putting together an eight-match unbeaten streak in the Ukrainian top flight, Luhansk still sit down in eighth position.

Zorya Luhansk Europa League form: LLLW Zorya Luhansk form (all competitions): LDLDWW

Leicester City Europa League form: WWWD Leicester City form (all competitions): WWWLDL

Team News

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Rodgers revealed last week that Ricardo Pereira and Wilfred Ndidi could make their return from injuries in this fixture.

The Foxes boss is expected to rest many of the players who started against Fulham, potentially leaving a couple of his star men in the East Midlands.

However, neither Caglar Soyuncu or Timothy Castagne are likely to be risked in this game, leaving them to focus on earning a start against AEK next week.

Luhansk will be unable to call upon Vitalii Vernydub due to suspension, leaving Lovro Cvek and Joel Abu Hanna to feature in the centre of defence.

Only five of the Luhansk squad have started the previous four European games and more changes could be made on Thursday night.

Zorya Luhansk possible starting lineup: Shevchenko; Favorov, Cvek, Hanna, Ciganiks; Yurchenko, Ivanisenya, Kochergin; Kabaev, Lunev, Gromov

Leicester City possible starting lineup: Schmeichel; Pereira, Morgan, Evans, Thomas; Mendy, Choudhury; Perez, Praet, Albrighton; Iheanacho

We say: Zorya Luhansk 2-2 Leicester City

Given their demanding schedule, do not expect Rodgers to play a full-strength side on Thursday evening. However, the Foxes should have enough to claim a share of the spoils against opponents who must push for maximum points, likely leaving space at the back.

Top betting tip