The stage was set. After the euphoria of barnstorming to the Premier league title in May--a gruelling nine months showcasing both style and substance, the jury was out yet again, and the whole of Europe was eagerly waiting. Leicester finally had the long awaited dream of mixing it up with the "big boys", turn fruition. Were they to be cowed? That's certainly not the Leicester way.
What followed was a ninety minutes (plus added time) full of verve, energy and gusto. With Leicester, impossible they say is nothing. Escaping relegation by their teeth, just under 18 months ago, and marching to the premier league title the following May. How times change. Here, a mind blowing hour of effective and efficient football all but sealed maximum points, in the process securing their first win in European cup competition in 54 years
A Wednesday night out at the Jan Breydeystadion might not prove intimidating for some of Europe's biggest sides, but on a night when Madrid needed two second half goals in a blistering five-minute period to dispatch Sporting Lisbon (devoid of talismen Islam Slimani and Joao Mario--the former sold to Leicester city), and that the all too familiar demons came back to haunt Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester's victory wrote a new page in their fairytale script.
It could have gone differently. Inside three minutes, Club Brugge striker Jose Izquierdo had a one-on-one opportunity go begging, minutes later the Foxes made them pay. As Jose Mourinho pointed out earlier this week, fine little details make a whole lot of difference on the grandest stage. As it were, Marc Albrighton put Leicester ahead, stealing in at the backpost to bundle the ball over the line. The rest is history. Riyad Mahrez's sweet,perfectly executed left-footed free-kick nestled in the top left corner, to double his team's lead, and when the Algerian converted a 61st minute penalty, the victory was already wrapped up. How refreshing it was, as the Leicester fans sipped in every moment, with delightful pleasure.
"Tottenham Hotspur we're waiting for you", the away supporters chanted, aiming a jibe at their North London rivals. On this evidence though, the whole of Europe now surely has Leicester's image imprinted on their thoughts.
Away from the disappointing 4-1 loss to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side in the premier league, over the weekend, this was a markedly improved display--one not seen in the embryonic stages of Leicester's domestic campaign thus far. With progress to the last 16 of the champions league seeming more likely than not, and more grand midweek nights on the biggest stage of club football still to come, the Leicester train seems to have no brakes on. Europe beware!!!
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