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Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 22, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
Club Brugge

2-1

Okazaki (5'), Mahrez (30' pen.)
FT(HT: 2-0)
Izquierdo (52')

Live Commentary: Leicester City 2-1 Club Brugge - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Leicester City's 2-1 victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League.
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Leicester City have booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Club Brugge.

The Foxes only required a draw against the Belgian side on Tuesday night but first-half goals from Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez soon put them in full control.

Jose Izquierdo pulled one back for Brugge but the visitors could not find an equaliser as Leicester held on to guarantee first place in Group G.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at the King Power Stadium.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Champions League between Leicester City and Club Brugge.

Unbeaten. Four clean sheets. Ten points from 12. You'd be forgiven for thinking we are talking about Bayern Munich or Real Madrid but no, we are talking about Leicester City - the same Leicester City which won the Premier League title in May and are on the brink of qualifying for the last 16 of European football's premier competition. It's still an incredible story and even though we may be approaching the final chapters with the Foxes struggling in the top flight, let's enjoy the ride while we can. Let's not forget that tonight could be one of the most historical nights in the club's modest history.

Before we get onto the team news, let's talk scenarios that could play out tonight. While Leicester are top of Group G, they still have work to do but a point will be enough to see them qualify for the knockout stages. However, a runners-up spot will not satisfy Claudio Ranieri so the dream scenario tonight would be a Leicester win and Copenhagen and Porto drawing in Copenhagen. It that materialises, Leicester will be group winners with a game to spare. Imagine being able to travel to Porto for their final group match with progress already assured?

Anyway, let's get onto that team news. Ranieri had a number of decisions to make regarding his starting lineup...

LEICESTER CITY XI: Zieler, Simpson, Huth, Morgan (c), Fuchs, Mahrez, Drinkwater, King, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy

LEICESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Hernandez, Musa, Hamer, Amartey, Schlupp, Gray, Ulloa

CLUB BRUGGE XI: Butelle, Cools, Mechele, Poulain, De Bock, Simons, Claudemir, Pina, Vanaken, Vossen, Izquierdo

CLUB BRUGGE SUBSTITUTES: Bruzzese, Denswil, Van Rhijn, Bolingoli, Gedoz, Wesley, Limbambe

So then, what do we make of that? There had been a suggestion that Riyad Mahrez could be rested but he starts on the flank for the Foxes. Islam Slimani remains on the sidelines so Jamie Vardy starts, while Andy King is preferred to Daniel Amartey in the centre of the park. Danny Simpson and Marc Albrighton also get the nod over Luis Hernandez and Ahmed Musa.

The name which stands out in the Club Brugge side is that of Jelle Vossen. Not only will he be familiar with Championship fans having played for Middlesbrough, he has also scored the Belgian side's only goal of the group stages. They will need to improve in the final third if they are to prolong their time in European football this season. Only a win will do if they are to maintain hope of gaining a place in the Europa League.

Like with all of Leicester's fixtures in Europe, we are not required to bring you a number of statistics relating to the head-to-head record because there has only been one previous meeting between the two sides. That came back in September when Leicester made their Champions League bow and although they endured some nervy moments in the first half, the Premier League champions ran out 3-0 winners thanks to a close-range effort from Marc Albrighton and two goals from Mahrez. I'm pretty confident that Leicester would take a repeat result tonight.

Leicester are not the only English side in action this evening with Tottenham Hotspur facing AS Monaco in Monte Carlo. Mauricio Pochettino's side could do with recording a win against the Ligue 1 side but a draw would still them a chance of reaching the second round. If you would like to follow that match (obviously while staying here, too), then click here.

Not bad for your first go...



A Leicester win would be made all the more perfect if Vardy was able to get on the scoresheet. He halted his drought while playing for England against Spain last week but he still hasn't scored for Leicester since September 10. It's a run stretching 13 games and without counting, probably around 1000 minutes so the sooner he finds the back of the net, the better!

While Vardy has struggled in front of goal, the same can be said as Leicester as a whole. They've scored five goals in four games but one of those came from a free kick and another from the spot. It highlights that their conversion rate from open play is very poor, which is a complete contrast from their free-scoring exploits last season. Ranieri probably thinks that their luck has to change at some point but while that may be the case, they have to start producing something different. They were very reliant on Vardy and Mahrez during the last campaign and some of their teammates need to step up to the plate.

Brugge have been made out to be the group whipping-boys in some quarters but that's not really the case. Sure, they suffered heavy defeats in their opening two games but they gave a good account of themselves against Porto. They lost their home fixture to a 93rd-minute goal while they only lost 1-0 out in Portugal. Don't be fooled into thinking this will be one-way traffic.

We also shouldn't expect many goals either. There have been just four goals in Club Brugge's last four fixtures in all competitions. They are proving hard to beat in the Jupiler Pro League with the team currently unbeaten in their last five outings. I'm doing a good job of promoting this game, aren't I...

After everything I've just said, don't take too much notice of this but the record does exist.



PREDICTION! So then, do we go for a narrow win for either side or a low-scoring draw? It's going to be the low-scoring draw. We think Leicester will have the majority of possession at the King Power Stadium but that doesn't necessarily suit them. It will also make it tougher for Vardy to get any space near goal. We are backing Brugge to do enough to claim a 1-1 draw.

There seemed to be a bit of a hold-up in the tunnel but the two teams finally make their way out at the King Power Stadium. This won't be the last time which the the stadium hosts a European game this season but we still need to find out whether the Champions League or Europa League is in their future.

Club Brugge get us underway.

Leicester have already tried a couple of long balls to Vardy but I think they are going to have to be cuter than that. They were easily dealt with by the centre-backs.

GOAL! Leicester City 1-0 Club Brugge (Okazaki)

Wowzers - we already have a goal! It's some goal, too. Vardy did superbly on the halfway to set Fuchs free and after the left-back got further down the wing, he crossed for Okazaki who swept into the roof of the net at the near post. What a start for the home side.

CHANCE! Leicester have been excellent so far. A searching ball from King finds Mahrez and after twisting the defender inside and out, his shot towards the near post was diverted wide by goalkeeper Butelle.

CHANCE! Club Brugge are all over the place at the moment. They are being closed down by Leicester at every opportunity. It leads to Okazaki being given another chance inside the area but he can't get a proper connection on a left-footed volley.

It's difficult to say whether Leicester have been outstanding or whether Club Brugge have really been that bad. The home side are setting a high tempo and so far, Brugge are struggling to cope. The Foxes surely can't continue at this pace all match, though.

We are having a slight lull in the action but Leicester are still playing some nice stuff in several areas of the pitch. Vardy almost found Okazaki inside the penalty area but his cross had a little bit too much pace on it.

We should really credit Brugge for settling into the match. They were all over the place 15 minutes ago but they are starting to cause a few problems for the Leicester defence. The Foxes are indebted to some solid defending from Morgan and Huth.

It's been another relatively quiet start for Vardy. He's putting in a huge amount of work to try to free himself of his markers, and also down the left flank, but he is yet to have a chance in the penalty area. You can see why Leicester need him in the team though. He's freeing up space for his teammates.

PENALTY TO LEICESTER!

GOAL! Leicester City 2-0 Club Brugge (Mahrez)

That could very well be the goal that ensures that Leicester qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League. A needless foul by Cools on Albrighton gives Mahrez the chance to score from the spot and he makes no mistake as he sends the goalkeeper the wrong way. That could be game over.

You really have to wonder how Porto only managed three goals in two matches against Brugge. They aren't the worst team in the world going forward but they look out of their depth at the back.

Leicester are throwing men forward in search of a third but numerous crosses fail to find a man inside the penalty area. I imagine many will be in the direction of Vardy. I'm sure his teammates want to help him get a goal this evening.

Unless Brugge improve drastically, this match will probably be played at the pace of a friendly. They aren't showing a lot of urgency to win back possession and Leicester are happy to probe away.

CHANCE! An excellent cross from the left flank from Mahrez finds Morgan at the back post but he can't get everything behind his header and it drops into the goalkeeper's hands.

SHOT! Where did that come from? Brugge have a decent strike on goal through Izquierdo but Zieler is able to stop the ball finding the far corner by punching it clear of goal.

HALF TIME: Leicester City 2-0 Club Brugge

The half-time whistle goes at the King Power Stadium and Leicester deservedly lead by two goals to nil. It's been so comfortable for the Foxes and goals from Okazaki and Mahrez have probably ensured that Leicester are going through to the knockout stages. The fairytale continues...

The two teams are back out for the second half. No changes for either side. Quick update on the other game - it remains goalless between Copenhagen and Porto. That's great for Leicester.

Leicester get us back underway.

It's been a quiet start from both sides in this second half. I hope things improve...

CHANCE! Good play from Leicester sees Fuchs deliver a low cross towards Vardy at the near post but the striker's flick goes harmlessly wide of the far post. It was a difficult chance but he had the confidence to try it.

GOAL! Leicester City 2-1 Club Brugge (Izquierdo)

Game on! Leicester were in total control but Brugge were able to break clear and score, ending Leicester's lengthy spell without conceding a goal. Izquierdo was able to get the wrong side of Fuchs and despite bearing down on goal at an angle, he rifled his shot into the roof of the net. Zieler should do better.

The goal hasn't really changed the pattern of the game but Leicester could now do with a third. They will be hoping that Brugge's greater need to go forward will leave spaces at the back.

This referee has given out 28 yellow cards in four Champions League games this season but he is yet to book anyone yet. Maybe he wants to bring his cards-per-game ratio down but in all fairness, it's been a game played in the right spirit.

Vardy finds the back of the net with a superb piece of skill at the near post - it's a back heel on the half-volley - but he is half a yard offside. It's torture if you have him in your fantasy team...

Yes, I have him.


Now Brugge have the ball in the back of the net through Claudemir but he too is correctly adjudged to be offside.

CHANCE! I tell you what, Brugge really fancy this now. Limbombe - who has just been introduced as a substitute - gets behind Fuch, much like Izquierdo did for the goal, but he can't make his teammate's exploits as he fired wide of the near post.

For 50 minutes, we saw the Leicester which has performed well in the Champions League but they are starting to unravel like they have in the Premier League. The result of this game isn't a certainly anymore. Brugge are much the better side.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Ranieri has decided to freshen things up with the introductions of Gray and Schlupp. Mahrez and Okazaki are the players to make way.

CHANCE! Schlupp almost makes the perfect impact! Leicester break three-on-two through the left-sided player but despite having Vardy and Gray either side of him, he decides to shoot and puts his effort too close to Butelle.

Leicester continue to look for break-aways but it's Brugge who are now looking the more likely to net a fourth goal of the match. Where was this performance in the first half? Leicester could very well require a third here...

SUBSTITUTION! Leicester's final substitution of the night sees Amarety replace Albrighton.

There are 10 minutes left at the King Power. As things stands, Leicester are progressing as group winners but there's still time for that to change.

Leicester are starting to make Brugge do a lot of chasing. They aren't necessarily looking to score a third, which is dangerous, but they are at least making their opponents work.

CHANCE! Vossen is a yard away from making it 2-2! Vanaken flicked a corner on at the near post but his teammate was unable to react fast enough to apply the decisive touch. Leicester are living dangerously here.

CHANCE! Very, very dangerously! Huth nearly diverts the ball into his own net from a Brugge corner. He didn't know much about that. There's less than a yard in it.

CHANCE! Leicester should wrap it up here after excellent work between Gray and Vardy. The pair play a one-two but as Gray closed in on goal, he sends his shot straight at Butelle from no more than eight yards.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

FULL TIME: Leicester City 2-1 Club Brugge

The full-time whistle goes at the King Power Stadium and Leicester City have done it! They are through to the last 16 of the Champions League! They had to fight hard during that second half but they have secured the result that they deserve. Not only that, the goalless draw between Copenhagen and Porto sees the Foxes finish as winners of Group G!

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. It's been an historic evening for Leicester City football club. Thank you for joining us tonight and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.

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