EFL Championship

Championship Decider: Leicester City Battles Relegation, Millwall Pushes for Automatic Promotion

In a pivotal EFL Championship encounter, Leicester City will host Millwall. For the home side, this is a crucial relegation battle as they sit precariously close to the drop zone, while visiting Millwall is in strong contention for an automatic promotion spot. With vastly different objectives, both teams are set to deliver a tense and exciting match.

Match Date
April 24, 2026
Kick-off Time
19:00
Venue
King Power Stadium, Leicester

Match Background & Qualification Scenarios

This EFL Championship fixture carries immense significance for both Leicester City and Millwall, albeit for contrasting reasons. Leicester City currently finds itself in 23rd place, teetering on the brink of the relegation zone and fighting desperately to avoid a drop to League One. Having been relegated from the Premier League just last season, a six-point deduction has compounded their woes, putting them in danger of successive relegations. Millwall, on the other hand, sits third in the league, fiercely contending for one of the two automatic promotion spots to the Premier League. Their impressive away form, topping the Championship's away table, provides a significant boost for their visit. Thus, for Leicester, it's a battle for survival, while for Millwall, it's a crucial step towards securing promotion.

Recent Form

Leicester City's recent form has been concerning, as they have failed to win any of their last seven Championship matches. They have secured only one victory in their last 15 games, with 67% of their last six matches ending in draws, highlighting their struggle to claim three points. Their loss rate this season stands at 40.91%. In contrast, Millwall has been in impressive form, winning 60% of their last five matches. They have registered three wins in their recent league outings and boast a particularly strong away record, with eight consecutive unbeaten matches on the road, including six victories, showcasing their consistency and resilience.

Key Players & Injury News

For Leicester City, key attacking threats include Patson Daka, who has scored two goals in his last five outings. There's positive injury news regarding their top goalscorer, Jordan James (11 goals), who is pushing for a return from a hamstring issue and is not as seriously injured as initially feared. Other important players include Stephy Mavididi, Harry Winks, and Abdul Fatawu. However, Victor Kristiansen is expected to miss most of the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. Jannik Vestergaard (head/hernia), Hamza Choudhury (knee), Harry Souttar (returning to training after an Achilles injury), and Jamaal Lascelles (lack of fitness) have all been recovering or nearing returns between March and April. Millwall's key players to watch include Josh Coburn, who is on a hot streak with three recent goals, and Mihailo Ivanović, who needs just one more goal to reach 10 for the season. In terms of injuries, Millwall faces a midfield crisis, with Billy Mitchell and Massimo Luongo both ruled out. Alfie Doughty and Joe Bryan are also sidelined. Additionally, Ryan Leonard, who suffered a calf injury in November 2025, was expected to be out for months and may still be recovering or just returning to play.

Published: April 23, 2026Updated: April 23, 2026