Leicester City Women Mid-Season Review: A Search for Identity and 'Lightning Leitzig' - Part 1

The Season So Far

Leicester City Women brilliantly battled their way to a 1-0 victory versus high-profile London City Lionesses at the King Power on 14th December - their last game of 2025. 

The Foxes are in a decent position after their first 11 games of the season. Two hard-fought wins against Liverpool and London City places them 9th in the WSL at the halfway stage. 

A decent run in the Subway League Cup was unfortunately cut short following defeat to WSL 2 side Crystal Palace in the quarter-final. 

However, manager Rick Passmoor seems to be slowly but surely implementing a tenacious, fighting spirit into the Foxes side that has seen them take points from close WSL table rivals Everton, Aston Villa, London City and West Ham.

The true star of Leicester’s campaign so far is goalkeeper Janina Leitzig, who’s been nothing short of heroic at times between the sticks. 

She’s managed three clean sheets in 11 games this season, including making 50 saves at a save percentage of 71.4% according to FOTMOB.

Match Recaps - September & October

This was the opening game of the season, with brand new manager Rick Passmoor having been appointed on an interim basis just three days earlier. 

Despite being described as calm-natured and forward-thinking, no amount of Passmoor positivity could prevent the Red Devils from striking the first blow to the Foxes’ season.

A disappointing performance with some early defensive errors allowed the United to get the upper hand, with Leicester never really looking settled or threatening throughout the match. 

It’s always difficult to start the season away, with less than favourable weather conditions, so the Foxes simply had to put this one to bed, regroup, and get on with things. 

Leicester had a point to prove after their previous performance and were back on the right track during their first home game of the season against Liverpool. 

Summer signing Emily van Egmond scored her side's first goal of the season in what was a fierce contest on Filbert Way. 

Shannon O’Brien was sent off following two yellow card offences: a solid backline performance followed and Leitzig was excellent between the posts. 

Olivia McLoughlin made her full debut, receiving Player of the Match for her brilliant midfield display.

This result was definitely an indication of how closely contested this match was. It's not often that lower-end WSL teams come away with a scoreline as slim as that from the mighty Chelsea. 

Despite the Blues scoring inside the first ten minutes, this was a unified Leicester side, driven by resilience and a ferocity to fight for each other. 

Debutant Rosella Ayane came agonisingly close to snatching a point for the Foxes and Leitzig was phenomenal in goal once again. 

Yet more positives to take away from a somewhat satisfactory September, with our goalkeeper’s superstar shot-stopping being the most common theme. 

A huge scoreline in Leicester’s first League Cup game of the season, despite a tricky start for a much-changed side from the previous week’s Chelsea game. 

Newly promoted WSL2 side Ipswich Town scored first, before Shannon O’Brien levelled for the Foxes with a clever run and low shot to the bottom right corner.

Then a host of fantastic finishing ensued, with goals from Asmita Ale, Rosella Ayane, Sammy Kaczmar and Jutta Rantala. 

Olivia Clark was handed her first start of the season, allowing Leitzig to get some much-needed rest. 

Overall, a comfortable win with a number of players on the scoresheet to demonstrate Leicester’s fine variety of finishing. 

It was a slow start for the Foxes and Spurs capitalised on some early defensive errors to race into a 2-0 lead. Then, just before the half-time whistle, came the mighty Sam Tierney. 

She nearly blew the roof off the net with her rocket of a strike from the back post! Despite the deficit being halved, Leicester could not find a way through.

There were some exceptional chances in the second half, however, the finishing touches from their previous cup fixture were seriously lacking.

The team were unfortunately left with nothing to show for their efforts at full-time.

Clearly wanting to put last week’s loss to bed, Leicester once again relied on their superb team strength and unity to snatch a precious point from this fixture.

The Foxes were up against former teammates Ruby Mace and Yuka Momiki who had both had successful starts to the season so far. 

It was goalless after the first half, but Everton took the lead early in the second after dispossessing Chantelle Swaby. 

Leicester, however, could not be deterred and a striding run and low finish from Noémie Mouchon meant that the team came away with a much-deserved point. 

Due to injuries plaguing most of her Leicester career so far, Mouchon demonstrated the emotional toll that football sometimes takes with tears flowing at the full-time whistle.

Yet another points battle ensued this season, this time in Birmingham. Leitzig’s heroics were once again called upon as Leicester fought tooth and nail to come away from this match with something.

The defensive effort was superb, with excellent contributions from Sari Kees, Julie Thibaud and Janice Cayman. 

Rick Passmoor was over the moon with what he called a ‘true squad performance’ and the Foxes seemed to have established a clear positive mentality when it comes to grinding out good performances.

Onto the League Cup! 

An absolutely electric start from the Foxes allowed Jutta Rantala to smash home an opener inside the first two minutes.

London City were caught napping and never managed to recover, allowing Leicester to progress further in the Subway Women’s League Cup. 

Olivia Clark also managed to keep a clean sheet, the second in a row and in an away fixture. 

The defensive effort so far this season had been sublime and the Foxes were growing in confidence with every game. 

Leicester sat top of Group D after this clash, with Crystal Palace the last obstacle remaining on their path to the knockouts.