Two-goal Mahrez gives Leicester flying start at Bruges
Win was Foxes' first in any European competition for 55 years
Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League football match between Club Brugge and Leicester City at Jan Breydelstadion on September 14, 2016, in Bruges. PHOTO: AFP
Leicester City enjoyed the easiest possible introduction to Champions League football as two Riyad Mahrez goals helped them to brush off the limited Group G challenge of Club Bruges 3-0 at the Jan Breydel stadium on Wednesday.
The win was Leicester's first in any European competition for 55 years and last season's surprise Premier League champions could not have wished for a better start, taking the lead when Marc Albrighton seized on a misplaced header from a long throw to score in the fifth minute.
The goal secured his position in the club's history as their first-ever scorer in the competition, and their first in Europe since 2000. "It was some feeling, something I never thought I'd achieve," said Albrighton, who has won a Premier League medal, played against Barcelona and now scored in the Champions League since being released by Aston Villa two years ago. "There is no reason why we can't win this competition," he added. "People said we couldn't win the Premier League, but just to be this far is fantastic."
The game was effectively settled as a contest on 29 minutes when Mahrez curled a superb free kick into the net after veteran defender Timmy Simons had hauled down Jamie Vardy on the edge of the area.
With such a comfortable lead, Leicester began to savour the novel experience of playing top-level European football and could have added a third before the interval when Danny Drinkwater rocked back on his heels and produced a stinging volley from outside the area.
The only sour note for Leicester was a booking for £29 million record signing Islam Slimani for a push on the back of Bjorn Engels, which led to the defender falling awkwardly and injuring his shoulder. Mahrez completed the rout from the penalty spot on 61 minutes after Vardy gave the defence the slip and was upended by keeper Ludovic Butelle.
Leicester enjoyed such dominance that manager Claudio Ranieri substituted both strikers with 20 minutes remaining.
The Italian said he was delighted with the performance, particularly on the back of last Saturday's 4-1 demolition by Liverpool. "It was an important win after that Liverpool defeat," said Ranieri who has taken his teams out of the group stages in four of his five previous Champions League campaigns.
The win was Leicester's first in any European competition for 55 years and last season's surprise Premier League champions could not have wished for a better start, taking the lead when Marc Albrighton seized on a misplaced header from a long throw to score in the fifth minute.
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The goal secured his position in the club's history as their first-ever scorer in the competition, and their first in Europe since 2000. "It was some feeling, something I never thought I'd achieve," said Albrighton, who has won a Premier League medal, played against Barcelona and now scored in the Champions League since being released by Aston Villa two years ago. "There is no reason why we can't win this competition," he added. "People said we couldn't win the Premier League, but just to be this far is fantastic."
The game was effectively settled as a contest on 29 minutes when Mahrez curled a superb free kick into the net after veteran defender Timmy Simons had hauled down Jamie Vardy on the edge of the area.
With such a comfortable lead, Leicester began to savour the novel experience of playing top-level European football and could have added a third before the interval when Danny Drinkwater rocked back on his heels and produced a stinging volley from outside the area.
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The only sour note for Leicester was a booking for £29 million record signing Islam Slimani for a push on the back of Bjorn Engels, which led to the defender falling awkwardly and injuring his shoulder. Mahrez completed the rout from the penalty spot on 61 minutes after Vardy gave the defence the slip and was upended by keeper Ludovic Butelle.
Leicester enjoyed such dominance that manager Claudio Ranieri substituted both strikers with 20 minutes remaining.
The Italian said he was delighted with the performance, particularly on the back of last Saturday's 4-1 demolition by Liverpool. "It was an important win after that Liverpool defeat," said Ranieri who has taken his teams out of the group stages in four of his five previous Champions League campaigns.