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I’d like to start by saying that I got to go to this one and if you ever get a chance to see any Champions League football, jump on it. It’s just as great as advertised.
Equally, if you ever get a chance to see football at the King Power stadium, do not hesitate to make it happen. These days I don’t get to go anywhere near as much as I’d like, but every time I do I’m reminded of what an incredible atmosphere the club and fans have created there. There’s no better way to spend an evening.
Credit to the Copenhagen fans, too. They were loud throughout, cheering from the moment they arrived to long after the whistle had gone. It was a very positive atmosphere and they’re much funnier in English than any of us are in Danish. Except maybe Kasper, I guess.
We are in a good position now. we want to progress to the knock out stages - typically understated ambition from Claudio
As far as the actual game went, things were fairly equal. I don’t know enough about Copenhagen to know if it was their normal style or they learned what not to do from Brugge, but they pushed as high as they could all game. Leicester’s game plan from there was fairly simple and clear: play balls over the top to run onto.
Unfortunately, they weren’t quite on their game there and it wasn’t until the start of the second half, when they got the ball and ground and actually played some nice football, that the Foxes really started to look impressive again. Unfortunately they couldn’t make that pressure tell and we had another very nervous ending.
Kasper Schmeichel - 9
Forget the rest of the match, that was a 2-point save. As well as Leicester had played, they weren’t going to score another goal, and Schmeichel kept the clean sheet with a spectacular reaction save.
.@kschmeichel1's heroic last-gasp match-winning save. #UCL https://t.co/Y9KbNzwks3
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) October 18, 2016
Danny Simpson - 7
The right back’s defensive work today as nearly flawless. Everything you need from a fullback. He was, however, one of the main culprits for aimless long balls towards no particular target.
Wes Morgan - 8
The captain was clearly hampered by a knee to the back for a lot of the first half, but kept going nonetheless. His display wasn’t as commanding as it could have been, but he gets a bonus point for turning his marker on the half way line and delivering a perfect cross field ball to Mahrez.
Robert Huth - 7
A good performance, and a clean sheet, but was beaten at a corner (who’d have guessed) with a header that just barely missed not long after we’d gone ahead.
Christian Fuchs - 7
The Austrian is so calm and poised, under almost any circumstance the game might throw at him. It’s exactly what this team needs at times.
A tough game but very happy with the win ⚽️ #WhatASave #UCL #LCFC pic.twitter.com/mYeaW0TFUm
— Christian Fuchs (@FuchsOfficial) October 18, 2016
Riyad Mahrez - 8
He’s still not quite ripping team’s apart, but you can’t always expect that. He seems to have a near telepathic relationship with his fellow Algerian Slimani and he took his chance very well. Was involved in all the excellent build up play created in the second half.
Danny Drinkwater - 7
A decent performance, inhibited by the fact that the team seemed intent on skipping out the midfield every time they touched the ball in the first half. As always, the team’s best spells in attack and defence came when he was scooping up the second ball outside both boxes.
Andy King - 9
The welshman’s incredible sense of anticipation and spatial awareness is usually noticed in the opposition’s box, creating and scoring goals. Today, he was absolutely key at the other end of the pitch, making crucial interceptions time and time again.
After playing his 339th game for #lcfc y'day, Andy King has moved up to 15th on the all-time table, level with Peter Shilton & Davie Gibson. pic.twitter.com/BF0eK2g3Mn
— Mercury LCFC (@MercuryLCFC) October 19, 2016
Marc Albrighton - 7
He gave the ball away more than you’d like, but you could see how determined he was every time to make up for it. He might have been the hardest working player out there, and it’s not often you can say that about a creative winger.
Islam Slimani - 8
Made good runs, pressed well, always competed for the ball in the air and put in a very energetic display overall. Equally importantly though, when the opportunity came he did what he does best; won the ball in the air and put his team in position to score.
Jamie Vardy - 7
He ran the channels today like the man we loved last year and picked out Slimani with a great cross for the goal. Loses points however, for being particularly slow to get back onside. When the team’s plan was to play it long as soon as possible, that really didn't help.
Shinji Okazaki - 7
Essentially came on as a third midfielder, but that’s exactly what the team needed and a role he fills well.
Leo Ulloa/Daniel Amartey - n/a
Neither late substitute really saw enough of the pitch to be judged on.
I hope you all enjoyed that as much as I did. Don’t forget to savour these experiences because, well lets face it, it doesn’t look like we’ll be here next year. Amazing that it’s happened at all though and my Man of the Match was Andy King.
Three from three. The % European record continues at @lcfc. #ForeverFearless pic.twitter.com/CjaJmhgdpv
— PUMA Football (@pumafootball) October 18, 2016