Leicester City Stumble Against FC Köln as Pre-Season Gathers Pace
Leicester City’s pre-season preparations took an unexpected turn as they were handed a 3-1 defeat by Bundesliga side FC Köln at the Merkur Arena in Graz. The match came just hours after their earlier 2-1 victory over Karpaty Lviv, making it a rare and intense double-header day for the Foxes. While many players got valuable minutes on the pitch, this second outing served as both a test and a wake-up call.
There was already buzz ahead of kick-off due to the absence of three key players. Ricardo Pereira and Stephy Mavididi were notable omissions from the squad, especially as both had also missed the earlier win against Karpaty. Their continued absence raised eyebrows, as they were expected to feature. Mads Hermansen, the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, was also unavailable again due to a groin injury that's kept him sidelined all pre-season so far.
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With those gaps to fill, Martí Cifuentes reshuffled his lineup. Youngster Bade Aluko was pushed into the back four, likely at left-back, alongside James Justin, Conor Coady, and Jannik Vestergaard. In midfield, Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp anchored the center while Louis Page slotted in just ahead of them. Up front, it was Jeremy Monga on the left, Kasey McAteer on the right, and Jordan Ayew leading the line.
Despite a bright start and McAteer getting on the scoresheet, Leicester were ultimately undone by Köln's sharp attack and persistent pressing. The German side, recently promoted back to the Bundesliga, looked more cohesive and clinical, especially in the second half. Florian Kainz capitalized on a rebound to score one of Köln’s goals, and it became clear that this was going to be a different test altogether compared to earlier friendlies.
Abdul Fatawu made another cameo from the bench, marking just his second appearance for City in the past eight months. Though he showed glimpses of his talent, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
This defeat marked Cifuentes' first as Leicester manager, though it came in a match primarily intended for squad rotation and tactical testing. There’s no panic just yet—pre-season is all about ironing out kinks and building rhythm—but the result does serve as a reminder that there's still work to be done before the Championship campaign begins.
With just two weeks remaining before the season opener, every session and match from here on in will be vital. This loss might sting a little, but it could also be the exact kind of challenge the Foxes need to sharpen their edge.
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