Tag: Leicester City

Categories
football Slides Sports News

HARVEY BARNES HITS BACK FOR LEICESTER AS THEY TAKE A POINT AT LEEDS UTD

Harvey Barnes struck a superb first-half equaliser as Leicester held firm to eke out a point in a 1-1 draw at resurgent Leeds.

Barnes produced a brilliant, curling finish less than a minute after Leeds had taken a deserved lead through Raphinha’s 26th-minute free-kick.

Leeds carved out enough chances to earn back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season, while Leicester defender Ricardo Pereira stabbed the ball against his own post in the first half.

But a combination of dogged Leicester defending and the home side’s failure to find the killer pass ensured the points were shared.

In a breathless opening 10 minutes, Leeds twice went close to opening the scoring and had strong appeals for a penalty turned down after Barnes had been first to threaten for Leicester.

Barnes’ effort was easily gathered by Illan Meslier and at the other end Jack Harrison’s curling shot was turned away at full stretch by Kasper Schmeichel.

Schmeichel then produced a point-blank save to keep out Kalvin Phillips’ header from Raphinha’s corner and referee Darren England was unmoved when the Brazilian winger went tumbling under Ricardo Pereira’s challenge.

There was no let up as Leeds’ collective energy levels appeared to have been restored, with Raphinha and Dan James both threatening.

Raphinha curled Leeds into a deserved 26th-minute lead when his free-kick bounced inside Schmeichel’s far post, but the home side’s advantage was short-lived.

Straight from the restart, Barnes cut inside from the left and after shifting the ball on to his right foot, curled a brilliant equaliser beyond Meslier and into the top corner.

Youri Tielemans flashed a shot wide soon after the restart, but Leeds swarmed back on to the offensive.

James’ low cross was blocked, Caglar Soyuncu headed inches wide of his own post and Harrison somehow managed to miss in front of an open goal at the far post following Phillips’ header.

James fired another effort narrowly wide and Rodrigo miscued a volley at the far post as Leeds reproduced the high-octane form that had won them so many admirers last season.

Having failed to convert several chances, Leeds were then given a let-off in the 67th minute when Ademola Lookman’s far-post effort was ruled out for offside by VAR.

To have gone behind would have been harsh on Leeds but after more magic from Raphinha on the right, their final pass continued to elude them.

James spurned another scoring chance after Rodrigo had regained possession and, as Leeds continued to live dangerously at the back, Leicester defender Soyuncu dragged his effort wide.

Wilfred Ndidi scuffed his shot as Leicester still threatened to snatch all three points in the closing stages before Leeds’ hopes of victory ended when Raphinha’s thumping drive whistled over.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

AARON RAMSDALE STARS AS ARSENAL BEAT LEICESTER TO CONTINUE EXCELLENT FORM

Arsenal reaped the benefits of a fast start as they continued their fine run with victory at Leicester on Saturday, with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in inspired form.

Gabriel Magalhaes and Emile Smith Rowe – with his fourth goal in seven games – had the visitors on top within the opening 20 minutes at the King Power Stadium and Arsenal headed back down the M1 with a 2-0 win after stoutly defending their advantage.

The victory is a seventh in nine across all competitions for Mikel Arteta’s side, who showed glitz and guile in equal measure to outfox Leicester.

Brendan Rodgers has overseen something of a mini-revival after Leicester’s slow start to the season almost paralleled that of Arsenal, but – after beating Manchester United here last time out in the league – they could not find a way back into the game.

Even Jamie Vardy, fit enough to start following a knee injury, could not inspire a comeback and add to his 10 goals in 12 previous appearances against one of his favourite opponents.

Arsenal set the tone early, with Bukayo Saka – on his 100th appearance for the club – seeing an effort blocked which Daniel Amartey almost inadvertently then steered into his own goal.

Scoring from set-pieces is becoming a regular occurrence for the Gunners and it was a Gabriel header from Saka’s corner which broke the deadlock as the Brazilian celebrated his first goal since March.

Smith Rowe doubled the lead on 18 minutes, continuing his fine form with the latest England squad announcement looming.

With Alexandre Lacazette battling for the ball in the box, it was cleared into the path of the academy graduate, who made no mistake with a clinical finish.

Benjamin White has made a fine start to life at Arsenal and was passed fit to play here after illness, but he conceded a silly free-kick on the edge of his own box as half-time approached.

James Maddison, a reported summer target for Arsenal, bent over a perfect effort which Ramsdale did brilliantly to tip onto the post at full stretch, jumping back up to keep out Jonny Evans’ effort from the rebound.

The save was so good, even Peter Schmeichel, whose son Kasper was in goal at the other end, tweeted that it was the best he had “seen for years”.

Rodgers reacted to the hosts’ first-half display by introducing Harvey Barnes and Ademola Lookman, with the Foxes much brighter following the restart.

Luke Thomas, in for the injured Ricardo Pereira, drove an effort just wide, with Arteta’s response to Arsenal’s loosening grip on proceedings seeing Martin Odegaard replace Lacazette.

Still Leicester pushed as Ramsdale turned a Lookman shot behind, the former Sheffield United goalkeeper becoming increasingly important as he then made himself big to save from Barnes.

Vardy’s chances had been quite limited and he uncharacteristically miscued a header as the game entered the final quarter with Arsenal still holding on.

Evans was arguably lucky to avoid a red card as he dragged Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang down with no other defenders around him but was only booked by referee Michael Oliver.

Schmeichel made a big save of his own soon after, keeping out Aubameyang’s effort from five yards out, with Leicester unable to find a way through in the closing stages as Arsenal held on for the three points.

Categories
football Sports News

CARABAO CUP: LEICESTER THROUGH TO LAST EIGHT AFTER BEATING BRIGHTON ON PENALTIES

Leicester reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with victory over Brighton in a penalty shoot-out on an emotional night at the King Power Stadium.

Wednesday’s tie fell on the third anniversary of a helicopter crash at the stadium, which killed the club’s chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others.

A crowd display and minute’s silence took place before kick-off ahead of the first home match to fall on the date, which finished 2-2 after normal time before Leicester won 4-2 on penalties.

Harvey Barnes gave the hosts an early lead before Adam Webster equalised in first-half stoppage time. However, there was still time for Ademola Lookman to restore Leicester’s advantage before the half-time whistle.

Substitute Enock Mwepu deservedly headed Brighton level midway through the second half to set up the drama of penalties.

Neal Maupay crashed his spot-kick against the crossbar before Mwepu saw his effort saved by Danny Ward, with the Foxes scoring all four of their kicks.

A much-changed Leicester team, with Caglar Soyuncu the only survivor from those who started the win at Brentford at the weekend, went ahead after just six minutes.

Patson Daka chased down a long ball and put goalkeeper Jason Steele under pressure, forcing him to rush his pass to Webster. Barnes was alert to take the ball off the toe of the Brighton defender before beating Steele with a low, hard shot.

Steele made a fine save to tip Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s shot onto the crossbar midway through the first half.

Brighton had threatened from a corner earlier when Dan Burn headed wide and they did so again just after the half hour as Shane Duffy leapt above Hamza Choudhury only for Ward to save his header.

It was from a corner that Webster was able to turn home the ball to equalise, after another Duffy header was blocked by Jannik Vestergaard.

However, another defensive mistake allowed Leicester to immediately restore their lead as Lookman pounced on a Jeremy Sarmiento back pass to poke the ball beyond Steele.

Aaron Connolly got in behind the Leicester defence early in the second half but decided to take his shot early from outside the penalty area when he had more time.

Brighton deservedly equalised midway through the second half when Mwepu beat Ward with a fine header from Marc Cucurella’s cross.

Albion looked the most likely winner in normal time but Leicester withstood the pressure and the tie went to penalties.

Maupay was Brighton’s second penalty taker and hit the bar. James Maddison, Barnes, Daka and Ricardo Pereira had all scored for the hosts, meaning it was over when Ward saved Mwepu’s kick.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

YOURI TIELEMAN’S STUNNING STRIKE EARNS LEICESTER VICTORY AT BRENTFORD

Youri Tielemans showed why Leicester are desperate to tie him to a new contract and James Maddison scored his first goal of the season as the Foxes sank Brentford 2-1.

Belgium international Tielemans hit a stunning long-range strike to open the scoring for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Mathias Jorgensen hauled Brentford level but Tielemans then helped tee up Maddison’s first goal since February to secure three points for the visitors.

Victory rounded off a satisfying week for Leicester boss Rodgers following thrilling wins over Manchester United and Spartak Moscow.

In fact the only thing that could make it sweeter would be the news that Tielemans, one of the most coveted midfielders in Europe, had agreed a new deal.

His current contract expires in 2023 so the Foxes fear they will have to sell their prized asset next summer or risk losing him for nothing a year later.

Tielemans’ representatives remain in talks, and their hand will be even stronger after the 24-year-old’s latest display, turning the game on its head after Brentford had bossed the early stages.

The Bees almost took the lead inside the opening two minutes when Christian Norgaard hooked the ball goalwards, with fellow Dane Kasper Schmeichel diving low to his left to claw the ball away.

Then Ivan Toney had the ball in the net from Rico Henry’s square ball, but the striker was flagged offside, before Bryan Mbeumo skewed a good chance wide, all within the space of a breakneck opening 10 minutes.

But it was Leicester who took the lead with their first sight of goal in the 13th minute, a headed clearance from Henry falling to Tielemans who lashed it home from 25 yards.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Brentford and Maddison almost doubled the lead with a curler which flew just wide of David Raya’s left-hand post.

The Foxes squeezed the life out of the remainder of the first half until Toney met a cross from Frank Onyeka, forcing Schmeichel to tip his header over the crossbar.

After the interval Raya pushed away another long-range Maddison strike with substitute Patson Daka, on for Jamie Vardy, unable to convert the rebound.

Raya also palmed Boubakary Soumare’s drive over while, at the other end, Toney planted a header too close to Schmeichel.

Brentford’s equaliser came on the hour mark, Jorgensen rising at the near post to glance in Mathias Jensen’s corner.

But the Bees’ defence was picked apart by Tielemans’ through-ball in the 73rd minute, allowing Daka to race clear and square the ball for Maddison to tap into an empty net and seal another three points.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

PATSON DAKA SCORES FOUR AS LEICESTER KICKSTART EUROPA LEAGUE CAMPAIGN IN MOSCOW

Four-goal hero Patson Daka reignited Leicester’s Europa League hopes after the Foxes clinched a thrilling 4-3 win at Spartak Moscow.

The striker breathed life into a campaign which looked in serious danger when the visitors fell 2-0 behind.

Aleksandr Sobolev and Jordan Larsson, son of former Celtic and Manchester United striker Henrik, had given the hosts a commanding lead to leave the Foxes’ European hopes hanging by a thread before Daka struck in Russia.

Sobolev pulled a late goal back, but Leicester held on for a famous European win.

Daka is the first Leicester player to score a hat-trick in Europe and victory lifted them into second in Group C, ahead of home games with Spartak and Legia Warsaw in November before a final trip to Napoli in December

Having underlined the game’s importance following one point from the opening two games, boss Brendan Rogers needed a fast start, and he effectively got one when Daka slashed wide after a neat James Maddison pass.

But, even then, the Foxes fell behind after 11 minutes to epitomise what had previously been a faltering European campaign.

They failed to clear as Sobolev and Zelimkhan Bakaev tried to find a way through before Sobolev’s cross hit Boubakary Soumare to catch out Kasper Schmeichel and creep in at the near post.

Youri Tielemans tested Aleksandar Maksimenko with Maddison firing the rebound over as Leicester looked for a response.

Having made just two changes — Luke Thomas and Daka coming in — from Saturday’s thrilling 4-2 win over Manchester United, Leicester were strong yet suffered first-half frustration.

Spartak picked their moments to break and looked dangerous while the Foxes’ initial threat waned.

They had plenty of the ball, but the hosts were resolute and Thomas’ speculative effort encapsulated Leicester’s determined but fruitless efforts since going behind.

Spartak had showed their grit, and they pounced to add a second a minute before the break when Caglar Soyuncu made a mess of a clearance and Victor Moses crossed for Larsson to finish from eight yards.

Leicester, though, hit back just 74 seconds later as Kelechi Iheanacho picked out Daka to skip behind the hosts’ defence and slot past Maksimenko.

It was a lifeline for the Foxes, one which they grabbed in stunning style to complete their turnaround within nine minutes of the restart.

First, three minutes into the second half, Iheanacho pulled away from the Spartak defence and crossed for Daka to tap in from close range.

The striker was not finished and, when Tielemans’ pass split the hosts, Daka slipped the ball under Maksimenko to give Leicester a 54th-minute lead for a scoreline which seemed improbable just before half-time.

Leicester lost Tielemans to injury, but it failed to stop them and Daka seemingly wrapped up the points with 12 minutes left, latching on to Maddison’s pass and finding the corner.

Sobolev still had time to net a third for Spartak with four minutes left, but the Foxes held on for a crucial win.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

SCHLUPP HAUNTS FORMER CLUB AS PALACE COME FROM TWO GOALS DOWN TO DENY LEICESTER

Jeffrey Schlupp came off the bench to earn Crystal Palace a share of the spoils against former club Leicester – who let a two-goal lead slip at Selhurst Park.

The Foxes looked on course for a first Premier League win since August as birthday boy Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy capitalised on defensive errors to have them two goals up at the interval.

But Palace rallied as substitute Michael Olise scored his first goal for the club before Schlupp struck as Patrick Vieira’s side earned a battling 2-2 draw.

Leicester had the best of the first half but remain in the bottom half of the table having taken just two points since beating Norwich on August 28th.

For Palace, this was a strong response to conceding a last-gasp equaliser in their M23 derby clash with Brighton last Monday as they remain unbeaten in their first four home games for just the second time in 25 years.

Vardy had a chance inside the opening minute but could not connect fully with a free-kick into the box and the ball was cleared behind for a corner.

Palace responded well and enjoyed plenty of the ball, eventually forcing Kasper Schmeichel into a double save.

Firstly, Wilfried Zaha collected the ball after James McArthur drove into the box and saw his effort blocked by the Leicester skipper, who then kicked clear Conor Gallagher’s follow-up strike.

Youri Tielemans drew a first save out of Vicente Guaita at the other end, the Belgium midfielder slipping as he shot from distance.

Leicester would take the lead through Iheanacho just after the half-hour as the forward stole the ball off the toe of Joachim Andersen before coolly slotting past Guaita to mark his 25th birthday and his first league start of the campaign with a goal.

Another Palace error would allow Vardy to double the lead as Harvey Barnes burst forward and slipped a pass towards the former England striker. Andersen was in position to cut it out but slipped at the vital moment, allowing Vardy to finish the move for his eighth goal in eight league games.

Barnes hit the side-netting early in the second-half as Leicester looked to put the game beyond their hosts.

But Palace looked more lively in attack with Odsonne Edouard hitting the crossbar with a decent effort, before poking wide shortly after.

Vieira introduced Olise in place of Jordan Ayew with Palace on top and the summer signing from Reading would soon halve the deficit.

Tyrick Mitchell’s cross found the France youth international and his first shot was blocked before he fired past Schmeichel at the second time of asking.

It would be another Vieira substitute who would draw the Eagles level, Schlupp heading in against his former club with virtually his first involvement off the bench to grab his first goal since January.

There were concerns for Vardy, who went down in a heap after McArthur’s stray elbow caught him in the chest but he was fine to continue after a spell of treatment.

Both sides pushed for a winner in stoppage time but had to settle for a point apiece in south London.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

LEICESTER CITY FORMER MANAGER, CLAUDIO RANIERI IN TALKS FOR PREMIER LEAGUE RETURN

Former Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri is reportedly in talks over a return to the Premier League.

The 69-year-old Premier League -winning manager was most recently in charge of Sampdoria but now looks set to become the new head coach of Watford.

The Hornets sacked Xisco Munoz this morning after picking up just seven points from their opening seven games.

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, talks are “ongoing” between Ranieri and Watford over a move to Vicarage Road.

Di Marzio also states that Ranieri is “ready” to return to the top flight of English football.

Ranieri would become the second former Leicester boss to lead Watford in recent seasons after Nigel Pearson’s brief yet successful spell in charge.

Since leaving Leicester in 2017, Ranieri has managed Nantes, Fulham, Roma and Sampdoria but looks set to return to England once more.

He is currently priced at just 1/3 with a bookmaker after Di Marzio’s report emerged.

While Ranieri will undoubtedly have little time to succeed at Watford, he showed at Leicester that he can produce instant results.

Luckily for Leicester, it seems likely that enough time has passed for him to want to recruit any of the club’s backroom staff.

His familiar bubbly personality and engaging press conferences could light up the Premier League once again if he is able to get results at Watford.

Categories
football Sports News

JAMIE VARDY SCORES ON BOTH NETS BUT RESCUE A POINT FOR LEICESTER AGAINST BURNLEY

Jamie Vardy scored an own goal but still rescued a point for Leicester and kept winless Burnley waiting for their first victory of the season.

The striker put through his own net for the first time in his career but his brace ensured the Foxes grabbed a 2-2 draw.

Maxwel Cornet’s goal left Burnley on the brink of their first win at Leicester for 14 years before Vardy struck with five minutes left.

Chris Wood thought he had stolen the points in stoppage time when he headed in but the goal was correctly ruled out by VAR for offside.

The draw kept the battling Clarets, who impressed with their defensive resolve, in the Premier League drop zone while the Foxes sit 12th.

Matt Lowton set the tone early when he produced a fine block to deny Harvey Barnes when he arrived to meet Ademola Lookman’s cross

Youri Tielemans drilled over before teeing up Vardy, only for the striker to head over after 10 minutes.

The forward, making his 400th career appearance, should have scored and he marked his milestone in the worst possible fashion by giving Burnley a 12th-minute lead.

The Clarets had been bright going forward and when Cornet won a corner, Ashley Westwood swung it in and Vardy, at the near post, glanced the ball past his own keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Leicester mounted a response and Barnes tested Nick Pope from distance as the hosts dominated the ball.

Burnley held firm, although they needed Lowton to be in the right place to brilliantly block Vardy’s close-range effort after Ricardo Pereira was allow to deliver from the right.

The striker would have been forgiven for thinking it was not his day but he came good eight minutes before the break.

Referee Chris Kavanagh played a good advantage after Barnes was clobbered and when Tielemans fed Vardy his first-time effort found the bottom corner.

Yet, just three minutes later, Burnley stunned the Foxes again when Cornet grabbed his first Clarets goal.

The industrious Vydra wriggled free on the right and his deep cross found Cornet to arrow a fine volley past Schmeichel from 12 yards.

But Burnley suffered a blow when the Ivory Coast international was forced to limp off soon after with a hamstring injury – not before being booked for time wasting having come back on the pitch for treatment.

It would have been a relief for the Foxes’ defence, again struggling without the influential Jonny Evans, who continues to battle a foot problem.

That was recognised by Brendan Rodgers, who went to a back three at the break as Timothy Castagne replaced Pereira.

Leicester, though, failed to rediscover composure after the restart with Schmeichel particularly guilty of poor decision making and battling Burnley remained equal to their threat.

James Tarkowski frustrated Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho was introduced as Leicester tried to find a second leveller.

Again, they dominated possession but failed to force Pope into any meaningful save with Iheanacho seeing a shot blocked.

Rodgers’ decision to replaced Lookman with James Maddison was met with jeers from the home fans to underline their frustrations.

Tarkowski headed Tielemans’ drive behind with seven minutes left and, just as it looked like Burnley would hold on, Vardy struck again.

Iheanacho put him clear on the left and, when Pope raced out, the striker rounded him to roll in the equaliser.

There was still time for more drama in stoppage time when Wood headed in but the goal was ruled out for offside by VAR.

Categories
football Sports News

BRIGHTON CONTINUE FINE FORM WITH WIN OVER LEICESTER

Brighton maintained their impressive start to the Premier League season with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Leicester at the Amex Stadium.

The Seagulls found themselves on the right side of VAR throughout the game as Leicester had two equalisers ruled out in the final stages, with Harvey Barnes judged to be offside and obstructing the goalkeeper on both occasions.

Neal Maupay put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the 35th minute, sending Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way, and Danny Welbeck doubled Brighton’s lead just after the break with a well-timed header.

However, after going two goals behind, it was Leicester who dominated, with Jamie Vardy pulling one back just after the hour mark with his 150th goal for the club on his 250th Premier League appearance.

The Foxes kept the pressure on in the final minutes of the game but were unable to find the leveller.

Brighton had the best of the early chances, including when Maupay was fed through by Marc Cucurella, but his shot was blocked and deflected over the crossbar.

Solly March also had an opportunity to break the deadlock after being played in by Joel Veltman but his low drive was saved by the legs of Schmeichel.

A penalty decision from Stuart Atwell handed the home side the breakthrough they had threatened from the start.

The ball into the box was headed by Shane Duffy and struck Jannik Vestergaard’s hand at close range, with the referee pointing to the spot after a discussion with his assistant.

VAR then upheld the decision before Maupay scored from the spot to claim his third goal of the season.

Leicester looked marginally more threatening after the break and Vardy capitalised on a loose ball only to drag his shot wide of the target.

However, Brighton doubled their lead just moments later, with former England international Welbeck sending a header past Schmeichel.

The free-kick was put into the box from Leandro Trossard and Welbeck timed his run, lost Vardy who appeared to be marking him, and jumped well to nod into the back of the net.

Leicester halved the deficit just after the hour mark, with substitute Ademola Lookman playing a clever back-heeled one-two with Youri Tielemens who sent in a well-timed ball to the back post which was calmly slotted into the net by Vardy.

The visitors appeared to have secured an equaliser when Lookman scuffed a volley into the back of the net, but it was ruled out.

The assistant referee had raised his flag for offside with VAR upholding the decision, with Barnes in the line of sight of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and was offside as the ball came in to the former Fulham player.

Caglar Soyuncu headed wide inside the box with just over 10 minutes remaining as Leicester kept the pressure on in search of a leveller, with Barnes also having a shot deflected onto the bar.

Leicester looked to have equalised for a second time, only for Wilfred Ndidi’s header to be ruled out for another offside from Barnes, who was ruled to be obstructing Sanchez for a second time.

Categories
football Sports News

EUROPA LEAGUE: LEICESTER SQUANDER TWO GOAL LEAD TO PLAY DRAW WITH NAPOLI AT KINGPOWER

Victor Osimhen denied Leicester the perfect start in the Europa League as Napoli hit back from 2-0 down to snatch a point.

The striker struck twice in the second half as the visitors deservedly grabbed a 2-2 draw in Group C at the King Power Stadium.

Ayoze Perez’s first goal since March and Harvey Barnes’ second-half goal gave the Foxes a commanding lead.

But Osimhen grabbed a classy lifeline for the visitors and then headed in a late leveller, with Leicester’s frustrations compounded when Wilfred Ndidi was sent off in injury time.

Police and stewards had to control a disturbance between the home and travelling fans at full time with missiles thrown between supporters.

Napoli controlled much of the game and were almost left to rue several missed chances with Osimhen, Hirving Lozano, Piotr Zielinski and Kevin Malcuit all wasteful in the first half.

The Foxes – who only introduced Jamie Vardy as a late substitute – go to Legia Warsaw, who won at Spartak Moscow on Wednesday, in two weeks.

Leicester and Napoli started the tournament as joint favourites to lift the trophy in Seville in May and went at each other as if to prove their credentials.

Napoli threatened first and Kasper Schmeichel spilled Osimhen’s early drive from distance before David Ospina came to the visitors’ rescue.

The former Arsenal goalkeeper flung himself at Barnes’ feet to turn his close-range shot wide after Perez bullied his way through and Kelechi Iheanacho helped on his cross.

But Ospina could not thwart the Foxes for long and they grabbed the opener after just nine minutes.

It owed much to Barnes’ direct running when the winger collected the ball on the left from Ryan Bertrand’s clearance.

He burst forward, swapped passes with Patson Daka and delivered a deep cross for Perez to volley in at the far post.

Napoli responded well and the lively Osimhen slashed wide before teeing up Malcuit to shoot over after 29 minutes.

Osimhen continued to be a menace and, when he beat Jonny Evans to cross, only a combination of Timothy Castagne and Schmeichel kept out Zielinski.

Napoli, who had won all three Serie A games this season, had slowly taken control and skipper Lorenzo Insigne drilled wide as the Foxes struggled to regain a rhythm.

The Italians were in command but were becoming wasteful with Nigeria international Osimhen firing another opportunity over before Schmeichel ensured Leicester went into the break ahead.

The Foxes had lived dangerously and survived another warning when Malcuit’s cross found Lozano drifting into space and his header was parried by Schmeichel.

Leicester, playing their first home European game with fans since their Champions League quarter final with Atletico Madrid in 2017, needed a remedy.

Boss Brendan Rodgers recognised it, replacing Perez and Jonny Evans with Youri Tielemans and Caglar Soyuncu at the break, but Leicester initially failed to stem the tide.

Yet, the Foxes thought they had doubled their lead after 59 minutes.

Tielemans was involved, poking the ball through to Daka for the striker to drill in, only to be denied his first Leicester goal by a marginal VAR offside call.

Five minutes later, though, the Foxes did find their second goal.

Iheanacho won the ball in midfield and his perfect pass found Barnes on the left for the winger to tease Malcuit and drill into the corner.

Napoli had paid the price for their profligacy but they pulled a goal back in style with 21 minutes left.

A slick move on the edge of the box involving Insigne, Elif Elmas and Fabian Ruiz ended with Osimhen holding off Jannik Vestergaard and lifting the ball over Schmeichel from six yards.

Unsurprisingly, Napoli pressed for the leveller and Schmeichel turned Elmas’ shot away but the Foxes could not hang on.

Osimhen had been a constant threat and he netted again with three minutes left to level, heading in Matteo Politano’s cross from eight yards.

Ndidi was then dismissed in stoppage time for collecting a second yellow card after he pulled back Adam Ounas.