Leicester's Slimani slays Porto again
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Article summary
Islam Slimani kept up his fine scoring record against Porto as Leicester City won 1-0 in their stadium's maiden European game to move on to six points in Group G.
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Leicester City won the first European game at their new stadium to move on to six points in UEFA Champions League Group G.
Islam Slimani has been nicknamed 'dragon slayer' for his record against Porto with former club Sporting CP and he made it six goals past Iker Casillas in 2016 when he headed in Riyad Mahrez's curled cross. Although Porto saw a lot of the ball, and substitute Jesús Corona hit the woodwork, Leicester were the more incisive and Casillas did well to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
Key player: Islam Slimani (Leicester)
Porto fans could be forgiven for dreading already the sight of Slimani at the Estádio do Dragão on 7 December. The Algerian had scored five times against them already this calendar year for former club Sporting CP and his fierce back-post header from compatriot Mahrez's terrific cross made it six. The early signs are that Claudio Ranieri has reinforced impressively in the figure of Slimani, who clearly has an understanding with Mahrez and is linking up well with Jamie Vardy too.
Casillas unnerved
Casillas has played more than double the number of UEFA Champions League games as the entire Leicester team, yet for all that experience he did not enjoy his trip to this corner of the East Midlands. As balls – whipped-in crosses, or fiercely flung throw-ins – flew across his goal in the first half, he struggled to cope.
It will be little consolation to him and his team-mates that Porto grew into this game as Leicester tired; Nuno Espírito Santo's men were left to rue their very first opportunity missed when André Silva lobbed a ball over the stranded Kasper Schmeichel ... but wide. Corona's late shot against the post sealed their fate as Porto's 42-year wait for a victory in England goes on.
Reporter's view
Simon Hart (@UEFAcomSimonH)
"Fearless" and "Forever". These were the huge slogans either side of the giant banner of the hungry fox that was unfurled from the South Stand in the moments before Leicester's first UEFA Champions League match kicked off. "Fearless" has been the buzzword throughout the English club's Cinderella rise and they’ve already showed they have nothing to fear in Group G. Porto are a team with greater pedigree than Club Brugge, their opening victims, but the Leicester game plan reaped rich dividends once more.
They might be enduring some domestic difficulties but they are not adjusting their style in Europe but playing to their strengths – high tempo, lots of balls into the box. If they struggled to sustain their energetic approach in the final quarter, they still had too much for Porto, defending doggedly to the end. "We must fight together with everything we have," was Ranieri's declared wish in his programme notes – and that wish was granted.
