Leicester hold firm in København stalemate
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Article summary
Leicester remain unbeaten at the top of Group G after another defensive shut-out from the English champions denied København in a 0-0 draw at the Parken.
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Leicester City maintained their unbeaten record in UEFA Champions League Group G and took another step towards the round of 16 with a 0-0 draw at København.
On a cold night in the Danish capital, Claudio Ranieri's tournament newcomers kept another clean sheet as they moved onto ten points in the section, three clear of Porto. København, who sit third with five points, missed the clearest of the game's few openings when Andreas Cornelius saw his 90th-minute header turned away by Kasper Schmeichel and Federico Santander failed to convert on the follow-up.
Key player: Danny Drinkwater (Leicester)
There was plenty of perspiration from both teams but scant inspiration and on an evening where Leicester managed only one shot on target, their key man was probably Danny Drinkwater. Leicester's Mr Reliable he has been a central figure throughout the season and he kept them ticking over in the middle of the pitch once more as they ground out a highly useful draw. Last season's protagonists, Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, flickered into life only fleetingly in the second period as Leicester offered little attacking threat. Instead it was the likes of Drinkwater and Christian Fuchs, impressive both at centre-back and full-back, who excelled.
Déjà vu for Schmeichel and Cornelius
There were no goals for the home crowd to enjoy but that will have delighted the Danish representative in the away ranks, Schmeichel, who earned a fourth consecutive clean sheet in the competition. On the ground where he plays his international football, Schmeichel did so by frustrating Cornelius in the final minute, just as he had done two weeks previously in Leicester.
FCK miss their cue
Today was ten years and a day since FCK's only victory over English opposition, when they defeated Manchester United. Given their brilliant home record – 31 games unbeaten – they may have fancied their chances going into this match but ultimately they lacked the wit when it mattered to open up a Leicester defence which looked vulnerable at times, especially in the first period. Overall, an opportunity missed by Ståle Solbakken's men, who, as it transpired, needed the win to stay level with Porto.
Reporter's view
Simon Hart (@UEFAcomSimonH)
Few of the 3,400 travelling Leicester supporters will want to sit down and review the 90 minutes of this match when they get home. Ranieri raised eyebrows with his selection of Daniel Amartey and Jeffrey Schlupp – and the three-man central defence Leicester started the match with – and what followed was fairly forgettable but Leicester got the job done. They remain unbeaten and know they can secure qualification by beating Club Brugge at home later this month.
