Bournemouth vs Leicester Prediction & Betting Tips - FA Cup

Prediction published on 27/02/2024, 08:30  by Ian John | Modified on 27/02/2024 at 08:40 in FA Cup Predictions

Bournemouth and Leicester City have been two of the more impressive teams in the FA Cup this season, scoring plenty of goals between them and earning some high-scoring wins in the process. The Bees come into this game on the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday in a game where Andoni Iraola's team acquitted themselves well. The defeat leaves them 14th in the Premier League, but still 8 points clear of the drop zone, which will allow them to focus fully on this tricky 5th Round tie against the Championship League leaders. One concern for Bournemouth fans will be the fact that the Cherries have not won any of their five games since their 5-0 win over Swansea in the FA Cup Fourth Round and their last Premier League win was on Boxing Day (a 3-0 home win over Fulham). 

Leicester City's wins over Championship sides Millwall and Birmingham have seen them earn a 5th Round shot at Bournemouth. However, Enzo Maresca's team come into this game in the unusual position of having lost their last two Championship matches. A surprising 1-2 home defeat by Middlesbrough was followed six days later by a Friday night 3-1 loss against second placed Leeds, which means that the Foxes are now just six points ahead of the chasing duo of Leeds United and Ipswich Town heading into this tie. The Foxes won the FA Cup back in 2021, so they are familiar with what is required to go deep in this tournament. However, you feel their ailing League form may be on their mind as they head to the South Coast and it remains to be seen if this game is a welcome distraction from their League campaign, or one that detracts focus from their promotion push.