Riyad Mahrez scored in each half as Leicester City enjoyed a dream debut in the Champions League on Wednesday, cruising to a 3-0 win over Club Brugge in Belgium.
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The Foxes cruised to victory in their Group G opener, sinking Club Brugge 3-0 at the Jan Breydel Stadium thanks to a Marc Albrighton volley and Riyad Mahrez brace.
It is a long-standing tradition for Club Brugge fans to sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before each home match, but for Champions League visitors Leicester City, the tune must have been a sour reminder of their 4-1 thrashing by Liverpool at the weekend.
“I said from the beginning that the Champions League is an experience for us”.
Leicester made only two changes to their starting lineup on Wednesday from their defeat at Liverpool, and don’t expect their big names to miss minutes against Burnley after a midweek Champions League clash. “It’s not easy but we have started well and this will give us confidence”.
The simplicity of Leicester’s approach remains the same and if clubs in the Premier League have had a year to analyse and find ways to beat them, Brugge were caught cold by the vicious counter-attack and intense physical commitment which won them the title.
“We scored three goals but I don’t think it was a ideal performance”.
“If he hadn’t scored I’d take his neck and crush his neck”.
Ranieri seemed to acknowledge Mahrez’s slightly underwhelming domestic form by saying: “Maybe the music woke him up!”
Claudio Ranieri has warned he will go dilly ding, dilly dong again if his players are still basking in the Champions League’s afterglow instead of concentrating on visitors Burnley.
Leicester (1-1-2) lost just three times all season on their way to the most unexpected of Premier League crowns last term.
Ranieri revealed later that he had wanted Islam Slimani to take the spot-kick but Mahrez chose to shoulder the responsibility. “It was a good victory and I think everybody was happy and now our focus is the Premier League”. He was a lucky man.
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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. “You’ve just got to turn up and make sure you’re on the ball when the game time comes, and hopefully pick the wins up”. We know very well this season is totally different.
