Both victorious last weekend, Huddersfield and Leicester will face each other on Wednesday, August 13, in the first round of the 2025/26 EFL Cup. The hosts have started the season in the best possible way, winning their first two League One matches, scoring a total of five goals and conceding none. Under debutant manager Lee Grant, this brilliant start positions them as one of the potential outsiders in the race for a spot in next season’s Championship. The Terriers’ main strength is undoubtedly their defense, bolstered by the free signing of veteran Murray Wallace. Up front, the goal-scoring responsibility falls on Alfie May, one of the key players behind Birmingham’s promotion last year. Leicester, on the other hand, did their job in their Championship opener, narrowly defeating a struggling Sheffield Wednesday. Following last season’s painful relegation, the Foxes were forced to sell several key players, strengthening only with the arrival of experienced goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, brought in to replace Hermansen, who recently joined West Ham for over €20 million. While waiting for the transfer market to bring in some much-needed attacking reinforcements—especially to fill the gap left by Jamie Vardy’s departure—new head coach Marti Cifuentes will try to make the most of the squad at his disposal, hoping for the breakout of some promising youngsters, with the constant concern that the club might sell another valuable piece, most notably Bilal El Khannouss.

Huddersfield Town's recent form and key stats

Huddersfield Town come into this cup fixture in excellent form, riding two wins from their first two League One matches. Under rookie coach Lee Grant, they opened the season with a 3-0 home win over Leyton Orient, then followed it up a week later with a 0-2 victory at Reading, thanks to goals from Whatmough in the 74th minute and Ashia in the 93rd.

The home success on August 2 against Leyton Orient marks a turnaround compared to the end of last season, when the Terriers lost their last three home games, conceding seven goals and scoring just two. In 2025, their record at the John Smith’s Stadium has been forgettable: only three wins in twelve matches (seven losses and two draws).

Leicester City's recent form and key stats

After a pre-season capped by a 2-0 win against Fiorentina, sixth in the 2024/25 Serie A, the Foxes beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 in their Championship opener. Trailing after 26 minutes, Cifuentes’ men reacted by equalising in the 54th minute through Vestergaard and, aided by Bannan’s 76th-minute red card, secured the win in the 87th minute with a goal from substitute Faes.

Leicester City have not won away from home since January 26, when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-2. In their last ten away games last season—against the obviously stronger competition of the Premier League—they recorded seven defeats, one win, and two draws, averaging just 0.7 goals scored and 2.1 conceded per match.

Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City prediction and tactical overview

Huddersfield Town and Leicester City started their seasons with the same goal: securing promotion by the end of the year. With their focus entirely on the Championship and League One, the EFL Cup is more of a distraction that can drain energy, meaning neither side is likely to go all out to advance past this first round.

The hosts have started strong, showing excellent defensive organisation by keeping clean sheets in their first two League One games. Offensively, Lee Grant’s side have what it takes to trouble Leicester, with a striker like Alfie May—well accustomed to battling in the lower divisions—signed after last year’s promotion with Birmingham.

The visitors, in their Championship debut, looked like a work in progress, having recently lost key players such as midfielder Ndidi and goalkeeper Hermansen. It’s also possible that Cifuentes could opt for heavy rotation to give fringe players minutes.

For these reasons, the BetMines algorithm predicts that this EFL Cup tie could see an upset: Huddersfield Town win or draw. Additionally, a low-scoring affair with under four total goals is expected, due both to the home side’s defensive solidity and Leicester’s attacking struggles in their opener—where both goals came from centre-backs.

• Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City Prediction by BetMines: Huddersfield Town to win or draw (Double Chance 1X) with 84% probability
  
  
• Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City Prediction by BetMines: Under 3.5 goals with 67% probability

Predicted Lineups Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-2-3-1): Nicholls; Gooch, Wallace, Feeney, Roughan; Ledson, Kasumu; Casteldine, May, Roosken; Charles. Coach: Lee Grant

LEICESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Justin, Faes, Nelson, Thomas; Soumare, Winks; McAteer, El Khannouss, Monga; Daka. Coach: Marti Cifuentes