Analysis: How Leicester City will look to set up against Roma

Despite enduring an up-and-down season that has been hampered by a plethora of injuries to many key players, Leicester City will provide a strong test for Roma in their UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final.

While they currently sit just 10th in the Premier League, the Foxes, who have only narrowly missed the top four in the last two seasons, have been steadily getting some key players back, which makes them a far more formidable prospect at this stage of the season.

Able to call on the likes of Wesley Fofana, Jonny Evans and Jamie Vardy once more, this will give Brendan Rodgers' men a real lift.

Considering they're the team that has been most impacted most by injury in the Premier League, the timing couldn't be any better with last term's FA Cup winners chasing another trophy.

"Collectively now the team is now getting back towards the level I want them to be,” Rodgers said.

“You can see the movement and confidence in the team, how they play, their belief.”

“The most important thing this season is to finish with good momentum, finish at the level we can play and that will be a big boost for us going into the next campaign.”

Proving himself to be a tactically flexible and adaptable manager who's used a variety of back three and back four systems during his time at the King Power Stadium, it's expected Rodgers will opt for the 4-3-3 shape he's preferred recently.

Wanting his team to build out from the back whenever possible and draw the opposition out, this has given them a solid base from which to instigate attacks. Often keeping their full-backs deeper in the first phase of build up, this has many positives attached to it, for it keeps the back four connected, gives the ball holder many passing options, draws out pressers and helps them deal with turnovers.

The holding midfielder will then be positioned ahead of the central defenders to help form overloads and to be an outlet to play through. In doing so, he frequently attracts an opponent from the first line of pressure, which allows spaces for the centre backs to dribble upfield to gain territory and subsequently unbalance the opposition shape.

Once possession is established, the role of their talented number eights in James Maddison and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been crucial to breathing life into attacks.

Such experts at finding space between the lines, supporting wide attacks, helping the lone pivot, conjuring chances and just generally injecting creativity into their play to unlock backlines, they've been so beneficial.

Dovetailing smoothly with their nearby full-back and winger, the way they've rotated with their colleagues has been an impressive feature of their play.

To start with, the way one of the eights drops into the fullback position, which triggers the fullback to push into midfield, has not only caused marking dilemmas for foes, but also allowed Maddison or Dewsbury-Hall heaps of time and space to assess their options before using their passing wizardry dictate the play and wreak havoc.

It's also been notable how they interchange with their wingers, with this being successful in opening the channel for either man or allowing the fullback to embark on damaging underlaps into the final third.

Seeing as the winger will typically draw out or pin the full-back and the striker occupy one or both central defenders, Leicester's mids have relished attacking these gaps to get in behind to add some vital variety to further disrupt defensive schemes.

In addition, their threat is enhanced by their penetrative runs from deep to provide an option for crosses and cutbacks.

With defenders usually preoccupied, ball watching or covering space in the area, these late arriving bursts from midfield have been very valuable indeed.

Giving the Foxes an extra number while avoiding attention, Dewsbury-Hall's goal against Crystal Palace was a perfect example of how effective this avenue can be.

The electrifying running power and goal threat of Harvey Barnes is something Roma will also need to be wary of. An expert at exploiting openings in behind and on the counter, his blistering speed and astute run timing gives them a vital deep, direct threat that accompanies the talents of their midfielders nicely.

Explosive on the dribble and handy at constructing opportunities for colleagues as well, he's certainly a nightmare for defenders when in full flight.

Now fit and available for selection, Vardy is another asset for Rodgers to call on, as the experienced striker's instinctive finishing and intelligent movement ensure he adds another dimension to their attacking armoury whether starting or coming off the bench.

If not wanting to play a speedier striker such as the aforementioned Vardy or Patson Daka, Kelechi Iheanacho offers them a tidy alternative. Proficient at dropping deep between the lines, pushing wider to form overloads or being a fine outlet for progressive passes, he's an accomplished connector of play.

Moreover, not only does he bring others into play, but he also opens gaps that teammates can explore and has displayed that he's a tidy finisher.

Possessing some wonderful set pieces takers in Maddison and Dewsbury-Hall, the Giallorossi will have to be careful not to concede fouls within shooting range and be prepared when the Foxes have other dead ball scenarios like corners.

Although Leicester haven't been one of the elite offensive outfits or fulfilled their potential, something their injury woes have contributed to, they've unquestionably got many ways to hurt opponents both through their individual talent and collective tactics.

The numbers below offer some insight as to how they stack up compared to other Premier League teams, with them most notably ranking eighth for goals scored, fourth for fouls won and ninth for key passes.

• 4th for most fouls won 10.01 per 90
• 8th for most goals 47
• 9th for key passes 2.88 p90
• 10th for through passes 6.66 p90
• 11th for average possession 49.7%
• 11th for shots 10.15 p90
• 12th for touches inside box 15.66 p90
• 12th for passes to final third 44.37 p90
• 12th for progressive runs 12.20 p90
• 13th for progressive passes 61.44 p90
• 13th for for XG 41.23
• 18th for dribbles 22.47 p90
• 20th for crosses 10.15 p90

Having been far less impressive on the defensive end, once again in large part due to personnel issues, the fact they have the second worst Expected Goals reading (64.56), are third worst for shots faced (13.33 p90) and are seventh worst for goals conceded (51) among Premier League teams shows their struggles.

It must be noted that they have improved markedly of late, for they've only conceded 11 goals in their last 13 matches in all competitions, which has coincided with them regaining some of their first-choice stoppers.

One area in particular that Roma will look to make headway will be set pieces, as Leicester have the joint-worst record in the EPL with Leeds United. Letting in a sizeable 16 goals already this term, Jose Mourinho and his staff will be eager to flex their muscles in this area and take advantage of their weakness here.

Considering Roma are top of Serie A for goals scored from set pieces on 17, their aptitude here could be a real difference maker against a Leicester team that tends to lose focus in their mixed zonal/man marking setup.

Another compartment that Roma will hope to extract joy from will be in transition, with the likes of Tammy Abraham, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolo Zaniolo happy to pounce on the counter. Seeing as the Foxes like to push their fullbacks high and allow their central midfielders to maraud into the box this can leave them shorthanded and without access to counterpress effectively.

As a result, opponents relish the chance to attack their underloaded, backpedalling defence, who can frequently leave spaces down the flanks, causing them to get stretched when the centre halves have to leave their post. Due to the weapons Roma possess in this phase, which has seen them score five goals from counters in Serie A (second best), this mode of attack could certainly bear fruit.

While they don't always press high and are content in a mid block, largely due to their depleted squad and busy schedule, Rodgers has shown he can devise shrewd pressing strategies. Good at directing opponents wide and using the touchline as an extra defender to shut off the centre and give minimal options to the ball holder, this helps them force turnovers and nullify opposition build up.

Their coordinated, angled pressing has been a sound chance creator for them too, with their Conference League quarter-final win over PSV Eindhoven a fine case in point even if they don't always apply the finishing touch.

Set to be a fascinating encounter full of intrigue between two elite managers, it'll be captivating to see how the tie pans out on a tactical level.

"We're going in strong, we're going in with belief and confidence. They play similarly to us in a way. They play counter attacking football. They've got very fast players who like to run," said Abraham, who's looking forward to his return to England.

"They've got good midfielders who like to find the attackers as well. We have to go into the game full of confidence. On our day, with confidence, we can beat anyone. For us, it's just about believing in ourselves.

"I'm going back to England. This is my game to show what I've come away to Italy to learn. I'm excited!"

With both teams boasting plentiful quality and desperate to take home the inaugural Conference League crown to end their season on a high, the stage is set for an entertaining showdown that's destined to be decided by fine margins.

Click here to follow Edward Stratmann on Twitter.