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Champions League Preview: Leicester have hope against Sevilla

Barcelona didn't need an away goal to pull off a thrilling comeback from 4-0 down against Paris S...



Champions League Preview: Leic...
Soccer

Champions League Preview: Leicester have hope against Sevilla

Barcelona didn't need an away goal to pull off a thrilling comeback from 4-0 down against Paris Saint Germain last week.

The gap that Leicester City need to surmount is much smaller as they welcome La Liga's Sevilla to the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes were losing the first leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium 2-0 when Jamie Vardy converted a ball in during the second half to leave the scores at 2-1 with half of the Champions League last 16 tie to play.

Theoretically a 1-0 win at home would be enough for Leicester to go through and if they were to rediscover the defensive fortitude and counter-attacking incision they had last season, such a result would not be impossible.

New manager Craig Shakespeare has since taken charge in the period following the first leg with the sacking of Premier League winning predecessor Claudio Ranieri proving hugely unpopular among the Leicester fans and the football community at large.

However, Shakespeare has led the club to consecutive wins in the Premier League to ease any shock relegation worries and if they carry that form into tonight's clash, they've got more than half a chance.

However, Sevilla are one of Europe's most impressive clubs. Reigning five time UEFA Cup/Europa League champions, they have multiple threats in the team from Samir Nasri to a Steven N'Zonzi earning rave reviews and French forward Wissam Ben Yedder.

Importantly, their away record in La Liga has improved in recent times, having only won one of their first five trips away. Of their last seven away fixtures this season, five wins and one draw have followed.

In the Champions League, Sevilla have also had a good defensive record. Vardy's goal was only the second match from seven in which they had conceded at least a single goal.

The only group game in which they conceded was the 3-1 loss at home to Juventus, otherwise clean sheets abounded.

Speaking of Juventus, the Italian champions are also in action tonight for their second leg against FC Porto. 

Massimilino Allegri's side are clear favourites to go through. Already 2-0 up from the first leg in Portugal, they now welcome Porto to a Juventus Stadium in which defeat has rarely become an acquired taste.

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