Leicester City 1 FC Copenhagen 0: Riyad Mahrez volley leaves Foxes on verge of reaching knockout stages
Claudio Ranieri's side shrug off poor league form to make it three in three in Europe with narrow win
RIYAD MAHREZ'S first-half volley was was enough to leave Leicester on the verge of the Champions League knockout stages.
The Foxes edged out FC Copenhagen to make it nine points from three matches - giving them a healthy lead over the second placed Danes on four.
Before the break, Jamie Vardy swung a cross to the far post and Islam Slimani nodded down for Mahrez to flick home with the side of his boot.
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Slimani could have added one of his own as he turned in Vardy's driven ball at the second attempt but was flagged offside.
Leicester are still the only team in Champions League history with a 100 per cent record after a blistering start to life among Europe's elite.
But their run was almost ended as Paraguay international Federico Santander headed a good chance over in the final stages.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Copenhagen’s 1,600 supporters were treated to a hog roast in the town square and some pre-match 'hygge' – (pronounced Hooga!) in local bars and restaurants - a word used by the Danes to describe a warm, cosy, sociable atmosphere.
- The visitors were also invtreated to a fan-zone featuring live music and highlights of the Foxes’ title winning season. A bit like asking the neighbours round and boring them by bringing out the holiday snaps and DVD’s!
- Among the gems in UEFA’s 155-page Champions’ League manual (which MUST be obeyed) Leicester’s mascot Filbert the Fox must be “only be slightly larger than a normal person.” Presumably an 8ft cartoon Fox might be a tad unbelievable for UEFA – but a 6ft ginger fur-ball is fine!
- Leicester suspected they could be in for a night of fire and brimstone. But the Copenhagen fans provided it BEFORE kick-off with a massive pyro display of red flares which is certain to cop them a hefty UEFA fine.
- With less than half an hour played the Hygge/Hooga went out of the window! Robert Huth had Federico Santander by the throat and the Paraguayan went down clutching his face – then applied an ice-pack to his jaw! The niceties were officially over!
- Leicester did well to break Copenhagen’s brilliant central defensive partnership of Mathias Jorgensen and Erik Johansson. Until last night the pair had never lost together – in THIRTY outings!
Related Stories
- Copenhagen skipper Thomas Delaney looked like a grown-up version of Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish with his flowing locks and desire to get on the ball. However there is no truth in the rumour the DANISH international also turned his back on the Republic of Ireland!
- Leicester fans don’t know whether to applaud their players or slaughter them for their ability to rise to the occasion on Champions’ League nights! There is a massive gulf between their domestic and European form.
- There was a commentator’s nightmare late on in proceedings when the Foxes’ Fuchs fouled Falk …. apologies if any listeners were offended!
- Leicester fans no longer get the horn when they turn up for home European ties. The Foxes’ rousing pre-match ‘Post Horn Gallop,’ is banned ….. due to yet another UEFA regulation! What they do after the full-time whistle is their own business I suppose.
BIG PICTURE
SOCIAL SAYS
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
LEICESTER: Schmeichel 7; Simpson 7, Morgan 7, Huth 7, Fuchs 6; MAHREZ 8, King 7, Drinkwater 7, Albrighton 6; Vardy 6, Slimani 6. Subs: Ulloa 6, Okazaki 6.
WHAT THEY SAID:
Leicester skipper Wes Morgan: "It was an unbelievable atmosphere, even the away fans were fantastic. It's nights like this we live for."
Goalscorer Riyad Mahrez: "We're on nine points so we're confident we'll qualify. We need to keep working hard and see what happens."