He had netted five in three games for previous club Sporting Lisbon against Porto before his £29 million deadline-day move to Leicester, and grabbed the victor against the Dragons as the Foxes hosted a Champions League game for the first time.
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“It’s the first time the fans have watched him and they saw how strong he is and how well he defends”, said the Italian, whose side won 3-0 at Club Brugge in their opening Group G fixture.
“Of course Slimani has scored so many times against Porto”.
We have a unusual scenario here where Porto are Champions League veterans (let’s not forget they won it in 2004 under Jose Mourinho) and Leicester are debutants but it’s the latter who seem to have the stronger side. They’re more experienced in Europe.
Cakir has issued 11 yellow cards and one red in his last two domestic games and has previously sent off Steven Gerrard for England against Ukraine and Chelsea’s John Terry against Barcelona in the Champions League.
Winger Albrighton admits the Foxes are having to adapt to being champions after being underdogs last season before their stunning 5,000-1 title triumph, but thrive on defying the odds.
There were few real chances after the break with Mahrez having an early effort pushed wide by Casillas before Porto began to exert some pressure late on as Leicester sat back and sought to hit them on the counter.
“We know who we are going to play tomorrow, we know the difficulties we are going to face and must never forget we are going to play against the Premier League champions”.
He’s a goalscorer against Porto.
“Slimani has scored so many times against Porto and I’m sure he will be a threat to them”, he said. As has been widely discussed, the draw has been clement and playing Porto is about as tough as it is likely to get for them. After we defended very well and were very well organised. We know they lack pace at the back but it’s really concerning when they’re letting in goals from set-pieces.
“Three points is the aim”. It is a new game. In Bruges, it was a surreal feeling to hear the theme tune.
Porto, however, were very much in the game.
This means that Sky customers can follow all the action on their desktop or laptop via the Sky Go app, which if you’re an existing customer, is also available on iOS and Android smartphone and tablet devices. Your senior players are important in every game. When you exit the players’ tunnel at the Dragao, a wide banner screams it at you in enormous letters.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has returned to training after recovering from a groin injury.
“Will we qualify? I’m waiting and if I touch, I believe”, Ranieri said.
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Heung-Min Son was brilliant on Saturday but I think Spurs will still miss Harry Kane, so I think they’ll have to settle for a draw, which would still be a good result.
