2 years ago
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James Maddison scored his second goal of the season for LeicesterLeicester City saw off Legia Warsaw to leap to the top of Group C and put themselves in pole position to reach the Europa League knockout stage with one game remaining.
The Foxes, who began the day bottom of the group, had the job done by the break at King Power Stadium, leading 3-1 after an open and entertaining first half.
Patson Daka and James Maddison put the hosts in charge before Filip Mladenovic responded after Kasper Schmeichel saved Mahir Emreli's penalty.
Wilfred Ndidi then headed in from a corner to re-establish the home side's advantage before a goalless second half.
Leicester lead the group on eight points, one above Spartak Moscow and Napoli after the Russian side won their meeting 2-1 on Wednesday.
Foxes back up and running
Leicester's progress under Brendan Rodgers has stalled this season with some inconsistent results, though victory means they now lead the group with a trip to Napoli still to come.
The Foxes arrived on a four-game winless run since beating Brighton on penalties in the Carabao Cup, but their flowing attack was enough to cover up any defensive frailties after losing Jonny Evans in the warm-up to a muscle injury.
Daka got the hosts off to a quick start, finishing smartly after an aggressive run from Harvey Barnes saw the ball deflect into the Zambian's path inside the penalty area.
Maddison was then allowed time to turn inside the box and pick his spot to double the hosts' lead 10 minutes later, scoring his second goal of the season.
Group C has been unpredictable throughout and Legia sparked hopes of unlikely turnaround when Mladenovic tapped in after Schmeichel got down to keep out Emreli's spot kick.
Ndidi, whose handball gave away the penalty, made amends soon after by heading in from Maddison's corner and that put the game beyond the visitors.
Barnes went through in what proved a tighter second half under a haze of smoke from the flares released by visiting fans, but could not beat Legia goalkeeper Cezary Miszta.
Those flares set off from the away end were followed by clashes between Legia fans and police.
But on the pitch Leicester dominated without really threatening to add to the advantage as they saw out a comfortable victory.
Line-ups
Leicester
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Schmeichel
- 27Castagne
- 18Amartey
- 4Söyüncü
- 33ThomasBooked at 61mins
- 42SoumaréSubstituted forDewsbury-Hallat 62'minutes
- 25Ndidi
- 10MaddisonSubstituted forPérezat 63'minutes
- 37LookmanSubstituted forAlbrightonat 84'minutesBooked at 89mins
- 29DakaSubstituted forIheanachoat 85'minutes
- 7Barnes
Substitutes
- 5Bertrand
- 9Vardy
- 11Albrighton
- 12Ward
- 14Iheanacho
- 17Pérez
- 20Choudhury
- 22Dewsbury-Hall
- 23Vestergaard
- 41Stolarczyk
- 54Marcal-Madivadua
Legia Warsaw
Formation 3-4-3
- 31Miszta
- 6JohanssonSubstituted forHolowniaat 45'minutes
- 4WieteskaBooked at 48mins
- 55JedrzejczykBooked at 87mins
- 5Ribeiro
- 8Soares MartinsSubstituted forCelhakaat 71'minutes
- 99Slisz
- 25MladenovicBooked at 39minsSubstituted forSkibickiat 71'minutes
- 20Muci
- 11EmreliSubstituted forWlodarczykat 78'minutes
- 82Lima LinharesSubstituted forPekhartat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Holownia
- 9Pekhart
- 16Celhaka
- 22Skibicki
- 28Wlodarczyk
- 29Rose
- 59Tobiasz
- 92Ciepiela
Live Text
Match ends, Leicester City 3, Legia Warsaw 1.
Second Half ends, Leicester City 3, Legia Warsaw 1.
Corner, Legia Warsaw. Conceded by Marc Albrighton.
Corner, Legia Warsaw. Conceded by Timothy Castagne.
Corner, Legia Warsaw. Conceded by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Marc Albrighton (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Marc Albrighton (Leicester City).
Yuri Ribeiro (Legia Warsaw) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia Warsaw) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia Warsaw).
Substitution, Leicester City. Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Patson Daka.
Substitution, Leicester City. Marc Albrighton replaces Ademola Lookman.
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jurgen Celhaka (Legia Warsaw).
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Artur Jedrzejczyk.
Attempt blocked. Patson Daka (Leicester City) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Ayoze Pérez with a cross.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Mateusz Holownia.
Ademola Lookman (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
English (US)