Ipswich Town
Leicester City
Ipswich Town vs Leicester City Prediction & Betting Tips – 25/08/2026
Portman Road plays host to a fascinating Carabao Cup second-round tie on Monday evening as Ipswich Town welcome Leicester City under the floodlights. The two sides are separated by two divisions, with Ipswich operating in the Premier League and the Foxes now plying their trade in League One following their painful relegation. A place in the third round is at stake, but the subplot here is rich: Wes Burns returns to Suffolk to face his former employers, while Leicester arrive in desperate need of a confidence boost after a sluggish start to their rebuilding campaign.
Match Analysis
Ipswich Town enter this Carabao Cup tie as clear favorites at 2.20, backed by a two-division structural advantage over League One opposition. A commanding 4-2 win over Union Berlin underlines their attacking confidence heading into Portman Road.
- Two-division gap is decisive: Ipswich are Premier League, Leicester are League One.
- 4-2 win over Union Berlin demonstrates Ipswich's attacking depth and squad confidence.
- 68% confidence prediction reflects Ipswich's dominant structural and quality advantage.
- Home advantage at Portman Road adds further pressure on a rebuilding League One side.
Leicester City arrive at 3.90 as heavy outsiders, carrying a winless League One record of zero wins, one draw, and one loss in 2026/27. Their best recent cup result was a narrow 1-0 win over Northampton, modest preparation for Premier League opposition.
- 0W, 1D, 1L in League One: Leicester's early-season form is alarming.
- Conor Chaplin remains injured, removing a key reunion narrative and attacking threat.
- Ben Nelson is a long-term ACL absentee, further depleting Leicester's squad options.
Key point: With no Over/Under data available, the double chance covering Ipswich via 2.20 remains the sharpest angle given the two-division quality gap.
Form & Statistics: Ipswich Town vs Leicester City
Ipswich Town
Recent form
Season statistics (1)
Leicester City
Recent form
Season statistics (1)
Ipswich Town vs Leicester City: Head-to-Head
Average statistics (recent meetings)
Lineups: Ipswich Town vs Leicester City
Ipswich Town
Starters
- 1 Christian Walton
- 2 George Furlong
- 3 Dara O'Shea
- 4 Caleb Kipre
- 5 Issiaga Ouattara
- 6 Cameron Humphreys
- 7 Chiedozie Ogbene
- 8 Conor Chaplin
- 9 Sindre Walle Egeli
- 10 Omari Hutchinson
- 11 Chuba Akpom
Absent
- Ashley Young (injury)
- Sammie Szmodics (injury)
- Kasey McAteer (injury)
- Julio Enciso (Cramp (will miss Leicester match, expected back Monday))
- Florentino (Calf injury (will miss Leicester match, hoping for Manchester United game))
Leicester City
Starters
- 1 Alex McCarthy
- 2 Tosin Adarabioyo
- 3 Caleb Okoli
- 4 Harry Souttar
- 5 Luke Thomas
- 6 Hamza Choudhury
- 7 Wes Burns
- 8 Willian
- 9 Liam Cullen
- 10 Tom Watson
- 11 Jamie Reid
Absent
- Harry Winks (suspended)
- Ben Nelson (injury)
- Conor Chaplin (Injury (missed Carabao Cup 1st round and pre-Notts County update))
Low confidence
Both XIs carry a speculative tag, drawn from a single source ahead of this Carabao Cup second-round tie, so the tactical picture could yet shift before kickoff. As things stand, a 4-2-3-1 against a 4-1-4-1 shapes up as the contest, with Ipswich leaning on Omari Hutchinson to provide creativity behind the striker.
Leicester's midfield pivot, anchored by Hamza Choudhury in a holding role, will look to compress space and frustrate the home side's transitional play. Chuba Akpom leads the Ipswich attack and will be the focal point Kieran McKenna's rotated side build around on a busy August evening.
Our Verdict
The two-division gap between these sides makes Ipswich Town the clear pick at 2.20. Gary O'Neil's men opened their Premier League campaign with a convincing victory over Union Berlin, while Leicester have managed just a single point from two League One outings. Russell Martin's squad scraped past Northampton in round one, hardly inspiring confidence for a trip to top-flight opposition. With Portman Road behind them and superior quality across the pitch, a home win looks the strongest selection. Over 2.5 goals at 1.60 also appeals given Ipswich's recent attacking output. Odds correct at time of publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bet for Ipswich Town vs Leicester City?
The standout selection here is an Ipswich Town home win, available at 2.20. The two-division gulf between a Premier League side and a League One outfit struggling without a win this season is the decisive factor. Ipswich's recent 4-2 victory over Union Berlin underlines their attacking confidence, and Portman Road should prove a fortress too formidable for Leicester.
What time does Ipswich Town vs Leicester City kick off?
This Carabao Cup second-round tie kicks off at 18:45 UTC on Tuesday, 25th August 2026. The match takes place at Portman Road Stadium in Ipswich, Suffolk, where the home side will carry the considerable advantage of familiar surroundings and a partisan crowd behind them from the first whistle.
Where can I watch Ipswich Town vs Leicester City on TV?
Broadcast arrangements for Carabao Cup second-round fixtures can vary across platforms, with rights typically shared between Sky Sports and TNT Sports in the United Kingdom. It is advisable to check both broadcasters' schedules closer to kickoff, as not every tie is guaranteed live coverage. Streaming options via their respective apps may also be available.
What is Ipswich Town's recent record against Leicester City?
Reliable recent head-to-head data between these two sides is not available at this time. What is clear, however, is that the current context could scarcely be more contrasting: Ipswich competing in the Premier League while Leicester find themselves rebuilding in League One, making this Carabao Cup tie a historically unusual meeting between the clubs.