Leicester City secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur in a gripping league encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 26 January 2025. The match, which kicked off at 2:00pm, saw the Foxes come from behind to clinch all three points in front of a vibrant crowd of 61,295.
Leicester City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for quick transitions into attack. Jakub Stolarczyk took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of James Justin on the right, Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard in central defence, and Victor Kristiansen on the left. In midfield, Harry Winks and Boubakary Soumare operated as the double pivot, tasked with controlling the tempo and linking play. Ahead of them, Jordan Ayew occupied the right attacking midfield role, while Bobby De Cordova-Reid played on the left, with Bilal El Khannouss in the central attacking midfield position. Leading the line was the experienced striker Jamie Vardy.
The substitutes for Leicester included Patson Daka, Facundo Buonanotte, Oliver Skipp, Conor Coady, and Woyo Coulibaly, who would be called upon later in the match as the game unfolded.
The first half saw Tottenham take the lead in the 33rd minute with a diving header from one of their players, catching Leicester's defence off guard. This goal set the tone for a tense first half, as Leicester struggled to find their rhythm and went into the break trailing 1-0.
However, the second half brought a renewed sense of purpose for the Foxes. Just after the restart, in the 46th minute, Jamie Vardy levelled the score with a well-placed tap-in, courtesy of a precise cross from Bobby De Cordova-Reid. This goal injected life into Leicester's performance, and they quickly capitalised on their momentum.
In the 50th minute, Bilal El Khannouss put Leicester ahead with a stunning strike from outside the area, again assisted by De Cordova-Reid, who was proving to be instrumental in the attacking third. The Foxes were now in control, leading 2-1 and looking to consolidate their advantage.
As the match progressed, tensions rose, and the referee brandished yellow cards to Bobby De Cordova-Reid in the 61st minute for dissent, followed by James Justin in the 71st minute and Harry Winks in the 75th minute for bad tackles. The physicality of the game was evident, with both teams vying for dominance.
In the 77th minute, Leicester made their first substitutions, bringing on Patson Daka for Vardy and Facundo Buonanotte for El Khannouss, aiming to maintain their lead with fresh legs. However, Buonanotte received a yellow card just a minute later for a bad tackle, adding to the growing list of cautions.
Jakub Stolarczyk, the Leicester goalkeeper, was also cautioned in the 82nd minute for unsporting behaviour, highlighting the intensity of the match as it entered its final stages.
As the clock ticked down, Leicester made further changes, introducing Oliver Skipp for De Cordova-Reid in the 86th minute and Conor Coady for Jordan Ayew in the 87th minute. The final substitution came in stoppage time, with Woyo Coulibaly replacing James Justin due to injury.
Despite Tottenham's attempts to find an equaliser, Leicester held firm, showcasing resilience and tactical discipline. The match concluded with Leicester City emerging victorious, a testament to their fighting spirit and strategic execution. The Foxes will take great confidence from this win as they continue their campaign in the league.
