Match Preview: Foxes return from international break, begin busy week against Chelsea

Location: Stamford Bridge, London, England

Kick-off time: 12:30 PM GMT, 7:30 AM Eastern, 4:30 AM Pacific

Following what seemed like an eternal international break, the Foxes begin a busy stretch of three matches in seven days on Saturday when they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

A total of 11 Leicester players were called up for senior action in the international break, with many playing crucial roles in their country’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The recent international window came following seven matches in 22 days for the Foxes in September and early October.

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

Leicester fans will remember that one of those seven matches was a 4-2 loss to Chelsea in the EFL Cup after the Foxes jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Shinji Okazaki. Starting this Saturday, the Foxes head to London for a rematch of that fixture before home matches against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League and a Premier League visit from Crystal Palace.

Midfielder Danny Drinkwater is slated to start on Saturday despite a groin inury that kept him out of England manager Gareth Southgate’s lineup during the break. Nampalys Mendy is still experiencing pain in his ankle, so it could be another few days before the midfielder gets back into Ranieri’s side.

Ranieri’s rotations could play a key role in the success of the Foxes over the next few fixtures with a significant amount of his regular starters taking part in the recent internationals.

Foxes fans knew coming into this season that they’d have to be more accustomed to a rotated Starting XI this season due to a busier schedule, and so did management with the addition new signings like Luis Hernandez and Islam Slimani that have had to step into a side that remained rather static in the face of success last year.