Match Preview: Leicester face Copenhagen with UCL Round of 16 in sights

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark, Parken Stadium

Kick-off time: 19:45 PM GMT, 14:45 AM Eastern, 11:45 AM Pacific

Leicester could have their path secured to the Champions League Round of 16 at the final whistle in Copenhagen this Wednesday.

A win against the Danish champions would secure the Foxes’ advancement to the knockout stages and mark a huge accomplishment for the club that’s denied all expectations in Europe this year already.

It would also allow Leicester to focus their attention on the Premier League — an attention that’s resulted in the Foxes sitting middle of the pack with 12 points in 10 games.

They’ll be away from the King Power Stadium, where the Foxes have shutout their opponents in the Champions League despite having the worst away record in the Premier League — conceding 14 goals.

Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Despite their struggles, the Foxes impressed last time out at White Hart Lane against Spurs to earn a point in a 1-1 draw. Four points in their last two matches has Leicester fans feeling confident heading into a European contest that could secure their future in the competition.

A big reason the Foxes are in this strong position is the play of Kasper Schmeichel, who’s game-saving stop against Copenhagen in the last round kept the three points intact for Leicester in a 1-0 win at the KP. He had the Copenhagen match circled on his calendar a long time, and now he’s set to lead the Foxes into the country he’s capped 14 times at the international level.

Copenhagen are five points back of Leicester on four points with FC Porto, while Club Brugge are in limbo at the bottom of the group in need of a win to keep their hopes alive. Manager Stale Sobakken’s side suffered their first loss of the season against Leicester and haven’t lost since, winning three in a row and sitting six points off the top of the Danish Superliga.

Striker Federico Santander scored his fifth and sixth goals of the season in a 3-0 win over Midtjylland this past weekend, and should lead the line for Copenhagen on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Ahmed Musa has been on a tear recently for the Foxes but could miss out after taking a knock against Spurs. Islam Slimani also could miss out with a groin injury, giving guys like Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki a chance to play a big role.