Algeria worldwide, Riyad Mahrez, was on good form for the English Premier League champions, Leicester City, he scored twice as the Foxes beat Club Brugge, in their first group game.
Advertisement
Just when the stardust from their magical 2015/16 campaign seemed to be wearing off, however, Leicester’s cast of heroes rediscovered their swagger to defeat Club Brugge 3-1 in their first-ever Champions League outing.
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.
“The problem is if someone is thinking of the music, then I ring my bell”, said Ranieri, who gave his players bells as Christmas gifts past year. “It was an important win for us, very, very important. We scored very early and that gave us more confidence”, Ranieri told UEFA.
“We played well in Brugge in our first Champions League match”.
“Maybe the music woke up him!” the Leicester manager said. Michel Preud’homme’s side will be hoping to start the European competition on a brighter note with a victory over the Premier League winners.
Leicester never looked back, with Mahrez curling a attractive free-kick into the top corner to double their lead on the half-hour mark and converting a second-half penalty to seal the victory.
“I think I have a feeling with my players”, said Ranieri.
“If he doesn’t score, I take the neck and I crush the neck”, he joked.
A break from the “dilly-ding, dilly-dong” of the Premier League proved a welcome respite for Leicester City after a poor start to their title defence. He was a lucky man.
Tottenham are back in the Champions League for the first time in five years and, with the capacity at their White Hart Lane stadium reduced due to redevelopment, they opted to play their European matches at Wembley this season. “Maybe he’s exhausted of dilly-ding, dilly dong and the Champions League music woke him”.
“We failed in the two because after two minutes we could have scored and the game was totally different”.
The quarter of an hour between that stunning strike and the half-time whistle could have brought more goals for the English side, but Mahrez curled another effort just wide after a one-two with Slimani just outside the box.
Advertisement
“We improved in the second half and had chances to win”.
