Villareal 1, Leicester 2, positives and negatives, player ratings and match report, Pre-season friendly fixture

Leicester started their pre-season match campaign today in a friendly vs. Villareal. Leicester got a perfect start under Steve Cooper winning 2-1, goals from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi.

Leicester made a number of substitutions after first half and gave minutes to grand group of players. Stephy Mavididi scored the goal in the 80th minute, to see Steve Cooper winning his first game in Leicester management, which is always a positive.

Watching the clips coming through from the Villareal X account, we did see a number of players in action, including new signing, Caleb Okoli. Abdul Fatawu were given minutes. Jamie Vardy captained the side from start, looking at it, Harry Winks also had the captains armband during the game. James Justin were among the starting players. Daniel Iversen kept Leicester in the game with some marvelous saves, coming in for Danny Ward, who was the starting goalkeeper. Harry Souttar was in the starting line-up, as well as Wilfred Ndidi, and of course minutes to Conor Coady.

There were little or few updates from the Villareal X account, but still this must be a good days work for the players in action. Villareal fielded a competitive team, as names in their line-up included top scorer Alexander Sorloth and captain on the day, veteran defender Raul Albiol. Danish U.21 international goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen started the game, he was in action in 28 La Liga league games last season. Argentina international Juan Foyth, previously with Spurs, also got his minutes. Former Watford defender Kiko Femania was also seen in the starting line-up. Parejo seen in the starting line-up, so this must be one major win to count for Leicester.

The group of players in the Leicester travelling party, looking at the different updates, includes four goalkeepers, Stevie Bauser, Brad Young, Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen. Uncertainty regarding the absence of Jacub Stolarczyk. Mads Hermansen is absent due to his involvement in the Euro’s. Defenders on the trip are, Ricardo Pereira, James Justin, Harry Souttar, Conor Coady, Ben Nelson, Luke Thomas and Caleb Okoli. Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard and Victor Kristiansen were missing as they all featured in the Euro’s. Midfielders, Harry Winks, Brandon Cover, Hamza Choudhury, Wilfred Ndidi, Will Alves, Michael Golding, Bouba Soumare, Sammy Braybrooke, Forwards, Jamie Vardy, Patson Daka, Tom Cannon, Kasey McAteer, Stephy Mavididi, Abdul Fatawu, Silko Thomas and Marcal Madivadua.

Late Saturday evening a short report from official sources, makes the sofascore.com update of Conor Coady as goalscorer, possibly wrong, saying it was Stephy Mavididi scoring for Leicester. Still a very small and minor update and no real information, no line-up’s, nothing. playing against a team that could be the best opponent in this pre-season campaign. Villareal announced their team and had a full update regarding their own team.

• Positives
  • Steve Cooper starting with a win against a very competitive opponent
  • Jamie Vardy given the captains armbind, coming from the game with a goal
  • Good performance from Daniel Iversen
  • Stephy Mavididi on the scoresheet, winning the game for Leicester
• Negatives
  • No official updates, just a late report with no special points to look for