We all had high hopes for a win at home in the first leg of this Conference League clash. The game started well for Leicester who had good options sitting on the bench and good to see James Maddison back in place for a bit of action from his start on the bench.
Rennes showed everyone at King Power Stadium that they are a football team of certain class and that Leicester had to be sharp both up front and in defence.
A bit forward and back in the start without any clear chances for anyone and good defensive display by both parties. But when Harvey Barnes was played through with a long and perfect ball for Caglar Soyuncu and his pass straight out in open space reaching Marc Albrighton it all became magical.
Marc Albrighton’s touch was pure class and his shot found the way to the net faster then a bullett from a canon, just a great goal and a fantastic assist from Harvey Barnes.
This was an even affair from start and Rennes came out in the 2nd with intentions to score and again Kasper Schmeichel had to show his best form to see the shots and headers cleared as he just kept saving every attempt.
Leicester looked sharp and also had opportunities to settle a score and put the game to bed early on in the 2nd half but two Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall chances were one saved and one trolled away.
Brendan Rodgers made to changes early in 2nd half, taking off James Justin and Patson Daka, bringing on Hamza Choudhury and Kelechi Iheanacho and both made of them made sence. Daka was a bit silent and Justin just back from injury came through and hour without any problems.
Hamza and Kelechi both worked hard and did their jobs, but it was not before James Maddison and Ademola Lookman came on very late that we again did see magic happen.
Embed from Getty ImagesJames Maddison did not need much time to show his presence and luckily Leicester kept their momentum and lead and in stoppage time Marc Albrighton found Kelechi Iheanacho and the Nigerian international scored a great goal with his left foot placing the ball far down to the right.
Fantastic to go to France with a 2-0 lead and hopefully be in a good position to reach the quarter finals of this tournament and copy the distance reached in the Champions League in 2017. Nothing taken for granted but certainly looking forward to a possible way through.
It was a good team performance from Leicester and also good to see James Justin back in the team as well as the young USA U.20 international Chiture Odunze on the bench for the first time. The 19 year old goalkeeper is a talent to look out for.
Embed from Getty ImagesLeicester will be playing Arsenal away next and a difficult game on the 13th of March and hopefully it will be possible to bring something home, but a very difficult game.
Jamie Vardy was absent with a knee problem, still no news about Wesley Fofana’s return or which game he will be back at and of course still a number of injuries to aid.
- Positives
- Kasper Schmeichel again showing class
- Marc Albrighton our man of the match
- Solid 2-0 win and hopefully enough to go through
- Again keeping a clean sheet
- Negatives:
- Probably being more effective
- Having a bit more momentum at home
Player Ratings: Schmeichel 8, Justin 7, Amartey 6, Soyuncu 6, Thomas 6, Ndidi 6, Tielemans 6, Dewsbury-Hall 6, Daka 5, Barnes 8, Albrighton 8 Subs: Lookman, Iheanacho, Maddison, Choudhury
Embed from Getty Images- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Marc Albrighton
Match Stats (H/A):
- Possession: 51 / 49
- Corners: 8 / 5
- Shots on target: 3 / 1
- Fouls: 16 / 10
TCF - FILBERT WAY 
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