LEICESTER CITY MIRACLE CONTINUES
Kante watches Leicester in Champions League
Craig Shakespeare knew his side needed to score after their 2-1 defeat in the first stage, and in line with the counterattacking style that earned them so much applause in 2015-16, these dogs of war were New triggered. Gone are the days of uncertainty and lethargy under Claudio Ranieri that have held them for much of the season. This is the new Leicester - same as old Leicester.
Armed with flags and their fiduciary clowns, Leicester supporters ensured in Seville - out of form in La Liga and always wondering how they did not put the tie to bed in Spain - were greeted by a noise cauldron Not seen at the King Power Stadium since The run-in title. From that moment they entered their shell, unable to produce something like their best football.
Instead Leicester got to them a minute. Jamie Vardy's incessant pursuit of the lost causes caused the mistake after the mistake, and it was the persistence of the England international that brought the opening goal, winning a free kick on the edge of the Box that Riyad Mahrez wisely selected Wes Morgan with a poster back.That would have sufficed to bring the champions of the Premier League through, but when Leicester are on their game, they are relentless in the attack. The goal of Marc Albrighton was just reward for their total dominance of the first hour. Samir Nasri to be evicted has told his own story of the frustration felt by the players of Seville.
Morgan creates the history of the Champions League
But like the best plays of Shakespeare, this one had a last twist in his tale. So often the hero of Leicester in this competition, the breath that rose when Kasper Schmeichel dropped Vitolo inside the box could probably be the head of Nottingham nearby. It was not in the script.
Schmeichel was in charge of expiating his own mistake. Some of his backups in European matches have been out of this world, especially in both group matches against FC Copenhagen as well as in the first leg of this tie. At Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, he resolutely saved a penalty from the first half, and once again he was there to reassert his heroic status, plunging low to his left to deny Steven N'Zonzi. The joy that greeted him was the strongest of the night.And so Leicester walks - the final chapter of their fairy tale once in a lifetime still to write. As they have shown against Sevilla, their almost unique game style means that they can be a match for almost anyone in Europe. Their quarter-final opponents will be another step forward, but this Leicester team continues to challenge the odds.
On a street corner in downtown Leicester, the words "Bring on Barcelona!" Adorn the walls. After proving once more that they can mix it with the best of Europe and the brightest, which is to say that they can not cause the biggest upheaval of all?
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