Leicester v København: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Monday, October 17, 2016
Article summary
Ståle Solbakken's København are like soldiers, according to Claudio Ranieri, who is exhorting his misfiring Leicester side to produce "our best performance of the season" to beat them.
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Article body
- Leicester boss Ranieri likens on-song FCK to "soldiers"
- "They are human, not machines," he says of his own misfiring players
- FCK undefeated in 23 matches in all competitions, since 22 May
- Leicester have won first two group games; FCK unbeaten eight matches into this European campaign
- Foxes have lost just two of their last 22 home fixtures in all competitions
Possible line-ups
Leicester: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Drinkwater, Amartey, Albrighton; Slimani, Vardy.
Out: Mendy (ankle)
Misses next match if booked: Slimani
København: Olsen; Ankersen, Jørgensen, Johansson, Augustinsson; Verbič, Delaney, Kvist, Toutouh; Santander, Cornelius.
Out: Amankwaa (knee), Boilesen (not match fit)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here
Claudio Ranieri, Leicester manager
It's the first time we've been in Europe and it's a little up and down. It's normal. They are human, not machines. Our priority is the Premier League but we want to go to the knockout [round]. For this reason the next two matches are very important and for this reason I saved some players for tomorrow.
[FCK] are a very well-organised team, they are [like] soldiers – they have a very good shape, they are very solid, strong, good in the air. We must do our best performance of the season.
Ståle Solbakken, København coach
Right now the table looks great, but we're not thinking too much about that. Our target is still to be in the top three, to ensure we stay in Europe after Christmas. That's the mentality you need to play in Europe, no matter who you're up against.
We're off to a great start, and if we get a good result in one of the next two games, it will be a mini-final against Porto on matchday five. But there's a long way to go. We're up against the champions of England in our next two matches and it could all be turned upside down by matchday five.
Weekend results
Chelsea 3-0 Leicester City (Costa 7, Hazard 33, Moses 80)
The Premier League champions have now lost half of their 12 fixtures in all competitions this term, conceding three or more on four occasions.
København 2-0 Silkeborg (Falk 26, Cornelius 28)
FCK cemented top spot in the Danish Super League with the help of Rasmus Falk's first goal since July – a run of 14 matches.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Leicester: LDWLLW
København: WDWWDW
Reporter's view: Simon Hart (@UEFAcomSimonH)
For the third time, Leicester go into a UEFA Champions League game on the back of a heavy Premier League defeat. Ranieri's men are struggling to reproduce the intensity that carried them so thrillingly far last term, but a home match in the UEFA Champions League is something else, and it would be no surprise to see the Foxes rise to the occasion again. Ranieri will hope Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani feel the benefit of having been kept on the bench until the 67th minute on Saturday.
Did you know?
In Solbakken's first spell as coach. FCK earned their only victory over Premier League opposition in eight attempts – 1-0 at home to Manchester United in the 2006/07 group stage. Find out more in our extensive match background.