Leicester City secured a deserved 2-0 win over Southampton in Matchweek 35, dominating the key attacking moments while maintaining control despite Southampton’s tidy possession game. Finally, Leicester won at home! It has been a while…

? Match Overview & Key Stats

Leicester City were sharper in front of goal, finishing with 2 goals from an xG of 1.4, while Southampton struggled to create quality chances, managing just 0.2 xG across the 90 minutes. The Foxes fired 13 shots (4 on target) compared to Southampton’s timid 3 attempts (only 1 on target). Despite Southampton edging possession (52%), Leicester made theirs count with more touches in the box (13 vs 12), more progressive runs (19 vs 10), and more entries into the opponent’s half (48 vs 41).

Defensively, Leicester’s backline was solid, blocking 6 shots and keeping the Saints from threatening inside the box-highlighting a well-managed defensive shape.

? Momentum & xG Story

The momentum chart tells the tale: Leicester steadily built their xG while Southampton’s line flatlined. Jamie Vardy opened the scoring in the 16th minute (xG 0.13) with a close-range effort, before Jordan Ayew doubled the lead before halftime (43’, xG 0.22). From that point, Leicester calmly controlled the game, adding smaller xG chances without ever letting Southampton back in.

Southampton never really shifted out of first gear-their xG climb was almost non-existent, showing a lack of penetration or dangerous final-third play.

? Shots & Finishing Analysis

Leicester’s shot map shows smart shot selection: most efforts came from central positions just outside or inside the box, with both goals arriving from high-probability zones. Of their 13 shots, 4 were on target, and 9 were inside or just at the edge of the penalty area, underlining a focused attacking approach.

Southampton, on the other hand, managed just 3 shots: 1 on target, 2 blocked, all from outside the box. Their highest xG chance was just 0.07-reflecting their struggle to get behind Leicester’s defense.

? In-Possession Tactics: Passing Patterns

Leicester’s pass map reveals a well-balanced structure, with strong connections between Wilfred Ndidi, Oliver Skipp, and Wout Faes at the heart of their buildup. The Foxes’ play leaned left through Luke Thomas and El Khannouss, combining short triangles before switching to the right flank via McAteer and Justin. Jamie Vardy acted as a link more than a pure poacher, dropping deep to pull markers.

Southampton’s pass map showed a more possession-focused but lateral game. The center-back trio (Stephens, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis) saw plenty of the ball, but connections into the final third were sparse. Sulemana and Manning were isolated out wide, while Stewart upfront lacked service-highlighting the Saints’ struggle to progress meaningfully through Leicester’s midfield press.

? Final Thoughts

Leicester’s blend of compact defending and targeted attacking moves was too much for a Southampton side that kept the ball but lacked bite. The Foxes converted their big chances and kept Southampton’s attack at arm’s length, earning a valuable three points as they eye a strong finish to the season.

A clean sheet, two clinical goals, and a textbook example of letting the opponent have the ball without letting them hurt you-Leicester’s game plan worked to perfection.