But it was the flawless performance from the Foxes, 50-1 to win the competition after last season’s shock Premier League victory, although things could have been so different if the hosts had taken a glorious opportunity after two minutes. “He took the responsibility”. “But if not, we want to get in the Europa League – that’s the target”.
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Porto, twice former European champions, visit the King Power Stadium next at the end of the month before the Danish champions come to England in October. He was a lucky man.
“Dilly ding dilly dong” is how Ranieri described the imaginary bell he would shake when he thought players were “sleeping” last season – before they stunned the football world by claiming the Premier League title.
This was only the ninth European match in Leicester’s history, and their first win since a victory over Glenavon of Northern Ireland in the preliminary round of the 1961-62 Cup Winners’ Cup – when 1966 World Cup victor Gordon Banks was in goal.
The away allocation was only 1,400 and although many others travelled despite not having tickets, they had been told they would be refused entry if they tried to buy tickets for the home section.
He then converted a 61st-minute penalty to seal a flawless night for Claudio Ranieri’s side, who are already top of the section after Porto and FC Copenhagen drew 1-1 in the other game. “It was good for us to start our story with a victory”, said Ranieri, whose team bounced back from a 4-1 thumping at Liverpool at the weekend.
A Hernandez long throw from the right caused chaos in the penalty box, with Club Brugge goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle racing out only to miscue his punch, and the ball was flicked on by Vanaken for Albrighton to convert into the empty net.
“They certainly proved that tonight because the pair of them were very, very good”.
But one win from their past five matches means they are 10th in the Belgian table and they never really threatened to break Leicester down once they had gone behind. Against Brugge there was a team who wanted to react after the bad defeat and it was hard for everyone. It’s not easy but it’s okay.
The Foxes defeated Club Brugge 3-0 in their first ever foray into European competition on Wednesday night and following an impressive performance, Sky Sports pundit Le Tissier has backed them to top Group G.
“We have started well and it gives us confidence and now we have to stay calm and put our minds to the next match on Saturday (against Burnley)”.
Dinamo players were unlucky in the closing stages of the game, hitting the bar twice.
“It was an important win for us after the Liverpool defeat”.
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“We failed in the two because after two minutes we could have scored and the game was totally different”.
