Leicester’s fairytale run in the Champions League this season continues as they defeated Sevilla 2-0 in the second leg of the round-of-16 match at the King Power stadium. With a first leg deficit of 2-1, the Foxes needed to win by a difference of 1-0 or more than a goal to go through.
Wes Morgan’s goal in the 27th minute from a Mahrez cross was followed up by Marc Albrighton’s goal in the 54th minute. Nasri was given the marching order shortly after but 10-man Sevilla pushed for the away goal but failed to get it as Steven N’Zonzi was not able to convert a penalty in the dying embers of the match.
Here are five talking points from the match.
#1 Kasper Schmeichel man of the hour
The Danish goalkeeper was by far the best player of the tie over the two legs. At the King Power, he first saved a stinging shot from Nasri as early as in the fourth minute.
However, the most important moment of the match came in the 80th minute of the match when N’Zonzo stepped up to take the spot-kick after Schmeichel had fouled Vitolo. Unperturbed by the pressure, the Dane jumped in the right direction to thwart the ball and prevent the match from going into extra time.
This was the 30-year-old’s second penalty save in the two-legged tie. In the first leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Schmeichel saved Joaquin Correa's spot-kick in the first half which helped Leicester come back in the tie and continue their unbelievable run.
#2 Sampaoli sent to the stands, again!
Morgan’s and Albrighton’s goals had put the Foxes 3-2 ahead on aggregate but the Spanish team needed just one goal to send the match into extra time. Pushing for the equaliser, Nasri got into a clash of heads with Vardy and saw his second yellow of the night.
Despite going one man down Sevilla kept pushing for the away goal but N’Zonzi failed to capitalise on the penalty. The visitors then earned a subsequent free-kick in a good area but a foul on Ndidi saw referee blowing the whistle, to which Sampaoli reacted angrily and was then sent to the stands.
This is the second time in this year’s Champions League campaign that the Argentine has been sent off for dissent. He was also sent off in Sevilla’s last home match of the group stage, against Juventus, following which he was seen sitting in the stands in the matches against Lyon and the first leg against Leicester.
#3 Premier League vs La Liga
The never-ending debate – Is La Liga better than the Premier League or vice versa? Though to come to a conclusion is very hard, this match will forever be used as an argument from the people on the English side of the divide.
Sevilla, this season, have exceeded all expectations and under the tutelage of Sampaoli are throwing everything they have to prevent Real Madrid and Barcelona from winning the league. Currently sitting at third, Los Blanquirrojos are five points off the top and three points behind second-placed Barcelona.
On the other hand, Leicester are currently on the wrong end of Premier League table, placed at 15th, two points above the relegation zone.
Despite Arsenal being pummelled 10-2 by Bayern Munich, the Foxes have kept the English flag flying high in the Champions League and one can only hope they go on to replicate their last season PL heroics on the European stage as well.
#4 Has the decision to sack Ranieri been justified?
The tinkerman was shown the exit door by Leicester management a fortnight after the first leg of this match. The decision saw a lot of people question, not just Leicester, but football as a whole. Managers, ex-players et al argued the decision was a horrific one and that Ranieri didn’t deserve the boot.
Though the Italian didn’t deserve to be sacked, the results paint a whole different story. Since the first leg defeat in Spain, the English champions have won all their three fixtures, 3-1 win against Liverpool, a 3-1 win against fellow relegation fighters Hull City and the victory against Sevilla.
While one can say the decision was wrong morally, it has somewhat been proved right practically.
#5 What next for both the teams?
Sevilla with this match, saw their three-year dominance on the European stage, albeit in the Europa League, come to an end. On the other hand, Leicester’s qualification to the quarterfinals has added yet another chapter to their fairytale.
While the Spanish team will now completely focus on their domestic league, trying to end the Barcelona-Madrid duopoly, the Foxes will be vying to stay away from the relegation zone. Craig Shakespeare’s boys will now wait for the CL draw, which is set to take place on Friday, to find who their next opponent will be.
