Among the many plus points for Leicester was the performance of Mahrez, whose goals were his first since the opening day of the Premier League season.
Advertisement
It was an impressive victory for Leicester keeping in mind their current standing in their own league (Premier league where they are just one spot above the relegation spot) and also the history Club Brugge holds In the European football.
“It is a big test against everybody because with Rostov we are the only two teams who had never played in the Champions League and for us it is hard to play against teams who have very good experience, like Brugge, Copenhagen and Porto”, added Ranieri.
They can certainly be encouraged when Jamie Vardy is worrying defences in this manner. The Russian champion responded with two goals in three minutes courtesy of Alan Dzagoev and Roman Eremenko.
“It was important to show the reaction after the Liverpool defeat”, said Ranieri.
Sporting had the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium largely under control and was rewarded when Brazilian midfielder Bruno Cesar gave scored with a shot from inside the area in the 48th minute.
Leicester certainly set off like a team in a hurry.
“For us it is very tough to play against teams with very good experience, like Brugge, FC Porto and FC Copenhagen”. Luis Hernández had hurled in a long throw from the right and Albrighton was loitering at the far post when Hans Vanaken inadvertently flicked the ball into the path of the Leicester player.
The Algerian winger then put the game to bed in the 61st minute as he converted from the penalty spot after Jamie Vardy was upended to ensure all three points were heading back to the East Midlands.
Leicester looked like they were enjoying themselves, unfazed by a stadium that had large pockets of empty seats and quickly working out their opponents were not going to subject them to the same kind of pressure, or even close, that Ranieri’s men experienced in their previous match at Liverpool.
Eight years ago this September, Leicester supporters might have been looking forward to a decent run in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy after beating Hartlepool in the first round (they eventually lost to Rotherham in the Northern Section quarter-finals).
Ranieri seemed to acknowledge Mahrez’s slightly underwhelming domestic form by saying: “Maybe the music woke him up!”
Albrighton’s opener was the ideal start to what promises to be an intriguing campaign, but more than one slice of luck went Leicester’s way in the early stages. The fact Drinkwater was willing to take on a shot from nearly 40 yards seemed to epitomise the team’s self-belief.
A superpower ” We played our style.
Vardy’s pace on the counter-attack against such a hesitant back four was creating genuine problems and the England global was heavily involved for the third goal just after the hour.
The Foxes made a statement with a win on the road in their first European outing as a Marc Albrighton strike and a double from Riyad Mahrez sealed the win.
Ranieri revealed later that he had wanted Islam Slimani to take the spot-kick but Mahrez made a decision to shoulder the responsibility.
Advertisement
“If he hadn’t scored I’d take his neck and crush his neck”. Robert Huth had two headed chances from corners. With up to £50m on the table with progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League, Leicester can expect to leap comfortably into the top 20 richest clubs on earth.
