Palermo Come Out On Top In Chesterfield
A second-half goal from Federico Di Francesco was enough to end the Foxes' 100 per cent start to the summer schedule, having seen off Villarreal and Shrewsbury Town over the last week, as preparations for the new Premier League season continue to gather pace.
City welcomed Mads Hermansen straight back into the starting XI following his time at UEFA EURO 2024 with Denmark, playing the first 45, while his international team-mate Victor Kristiansen was also named in the matchday squad for the first time this summer, returning after spending 2023/24 at Bologna. New signing Bobby De Cordova-Reid was a substitute too, joining the group later due to featuring in Copa America for Jamaica. Both would feature from the bench in the second period.
The visiting Italian outfit started the brighter of the two sides and were gifted an opportunity inside the opening minute, but could not capitalise, Dario Šarić firing low and wide of the far post. Harry Winks was the man to have City's first effort on goal, meanwhile, curling over the top of the bar after Wilfred Ndidi's cross eventually fell to the England midfielder. New recruit Caleb Okoli also sent his ambitious long-range strike off target, having made his way forward from the back.
The Serie B side remained a threat, however, and Di Francesco wasn't too far away from finding a breakthrough, curling a left-footed shot from the right over the top of Hermansen's goal after receiving the ball on the half-turn. Filippo Ranocchia then lined up a free-kick from a central position on the edge of the box, though Hermansen was able to watch it land just wide of his goal.
At the other end, some trickery from Stephy Mavididi set himself up to strike, attempting to catch the 'keeper off his line, but City's No.10 sent his attempt past the post. Minutes later, the attacker attempted an outrageous overhead kick, though could not quite connect.
Ndidi narrowly headed wide of the target as City piled on some pressure in the closing minutes of the first half, though it would remain goalless heading into the break. The same pattern followed after the interval, as Abdul Fatawu, a dangerous outlet on the right, found James Justin in the box. He in turn laid the ball off for Mavididi to strike low and hard - only for a deflection to take the ball out of harm's way.
Winks' inviting cross was soon being met by Okoli and again a block prevented Steve Cooper's side opening the scoring. Those missed chances would prove costly, arriving shortly before I Rosanero found a route to goal of their own. A mix-up at the back allowed Di Francesco to pounce, converting from close-range.
The reaction was almost instant from the Foxes, with Justin's cross headed behind by Ndidi, while neither Mavididi nor Justin himself could find a way through a packed box. Palermo's defence would not be breached. Further increasing the pressure in search of an equaliser, Fatawu darted down the right, taking on his man before getting into the box and hitting a low attempt into the arms of Alfred Gomis. Another Fatawu effort was then too high to trouble the 'keeper.
A raft of changes slowed Leicester's rhythm and Palermo almost doubled their advantage soon after - Roberto Insigne meeting a cross from the left and striking the upright. In the closing stages, substitute Thomas Henry moved past Ben Nelson's challenge and sent his shot just past the far post. A final opportunity fell City's way, Kristiansen's cross almost turned into his own goal by Ionuț Nedelcearu, requiring a smart stop from Gomis to turn it behind.
The Foxes are due in Germany next week, facing Bundesliga side FC Augsburg at Illerstadion in Kempten on Saturday afternoon (2:30pm BST kick-off), another chance to get minutes in the tank ahead of the upcoming top-flight season beginning against Tottenham Hotspur on 19 August.