Leicester host Burton Albion at the King Power Stadium on 22 August 2026, Matchweek 2 of League One. After back to back relegations, Leicester are the promotion favourites but their 1-1 draw at Notts County last week was acceptable rather than encouraging for a side carrying a squad built for the Premier League, not League One. Burton arrive after their own 1-1 at Stevenage, sitting four places below Leicester on 15th with a point already banked.
Russell Martin and Gary Bowyer have no prior meetings across their managerial careers, so there is no tactical history to pull apart. Martin was appointed on 15 June 2026 after replacing Gary Rowett, while Bowyer has been in charge at Burton since 17 December 2024 when he took over from Mark Robinson.
Both sides opened with draws, Leicester playing out a 1-1 at Notts County on 15 August while Burton mirrored that result at Stevenage the same day. Leicester showed promise in possession but created little beyond long range efforts, while Burton ground out their point at Stevenage and neither side has tasted a win yet.
Leicester are without Ben Nelson, ruled out with a knee ligament tear and Conor Chaplin is a doubt after picking up a knock. Losing Nelson hurts the defensive build up while Chaplin's potential absence removes the key link between midfield and attack. Burton have no reported absences and can name a full squad. Harry Winks, Ricardo Pereira, Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka have all departed the King Power Stadium, leaving Martin to build around Stephy Mavididi and Will Alves.
Martin favours patient, possession based football with an aggressive press, typically lining up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Without Nelson, the back line loses a composed ball progressor, which may force the remaining defenders into riskier passes or invite Burton to press higher. Chaplin's potential absence deepens that problem by putting more pressure on Mavididi to stretch the Burton defence with his pace from the wing, while Alves could fill a more central role linking midfield and attack.
Bowyer's Burton will cede the ball and look to counter through Tyrese Shade, who will be their most dangerous player when they win possession high, with Beesley providing an aerial target for long balls and the physical presence Burton lean on in transition. Leicester's midfield three will need to shift the ball quickly enough to stop Burton recovering their shape between phases.
Nelson's absence may push Martin to raise his defensive line, pushing his centre backs higher to maintain pressure but leaving space behind the line for Shade to run into if Burton win the ball in advanced areas. Chaplin's possible absence could push Alves into a more advanced central role, which would push Mavididi wider and leave the inside channels to Alves to exploit on the second pass.
The only prior meeting between the clubs was a 3-0 Leicester win in a July pre season friendly. Burton will target set pieces in their bid to improve on that, particularly with Beesley in the box and a reconfigured Leicester defence without Nelson makes their deliveries to Beesley a more credible threat at dead balls. Bowyer will look to load the box on corners and free kicks, while Leicester will try to keep possession between set pieces and stop Burton winning loose balls in dangerous areas.
The King Power Stadium's narrow pitch could suit Burton's compact shape early on, yet the longer this stays level the more Martin can call on his bench, where Burton have fewer options to change the game. Leicester need a home win to show they can turn expectation into results, Burton need at least a draw to keep pace with the early table.
Leicester 2-1 Burton. The absences of Nelson and potentially Chaplin prevent this from being comfortable and Burton's defensive discipline alongside Shade's counter attacking danger keep them in contention for a point. Mavididi's pace should find space behind Burton's line before the hour to give Leicester the lead and Alves's creativity should help force a second but Burton will pull one back late through a set piece or on the counter.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
