Claudio Ranieri’s side may be fitful in the Premier League but the formula that brought success last season may work in Europe’s top club competitionLeicester City are busy making history again. No other English team have managed to win their first two Champions League matches. Leicester’s 1-0 victory against Porto makes qualification to the knockout stages look distinctly possible with six points on the board already but whatever happens from now they hold the distinction of coming to terms with elevation to the Champions League more quickly than any of their illustrious predecessors.On the domestic front, after three defeats in the opening six games, the history made last season is fast becoming a distant memory. The key to success last...
The manager may have added to the pressure on the former No1 for Manchester City’s visit, given the goalkeeper has been left short of first-team actionShould Brendan Rodgers succeed where José Mourinho did not, namely by spending post-match time in the company of Pep Guardiola, the pair will find common ground.The key similarity relates to goalkeeping matters. Guardiola’s consigning of Joe Hart to the substitutes’ bench and subsequently Torino was high profile on account of the England No1’s status but Rodgers has taken controversial steps of his own. Related: Pep Guardiola tells Manchester City to ignore ‘little record’ at Celtic Continue reading...
Leicester’s playmaker has waited for the big stage and did not waste his chance against Porto, creating Islam Slimani’s winner with typical skill and visionBefore kick-off there was slightly wild crackle in the air round the open stands of the King Power Stadium. “FEARLESS FOREVER” read the banner at the Kop end, either side of a huge pair of scarily bloodshot Skittles-and-vodka fox’s eyes. Leicester have promised to take an adrenal fast-forward approach to this European adventure. But for all the first-night excitement it was a moment of cold, cool execution from Riyad Mahrez that forced a 1-0 defeat of Porto their way, the high point of a fine and indeed significant performance from the Premier League’s player of the...