Club Brugge 0 Leicester 3: Foxes begin Champions League adventure with away win

LEICESTER CITY kicked off their Champions League adventure with a 3-0 away win at Club Brugge.

Marc Albrighton had the honour of scoring the Foxes’ first-ever goal in Europe’s top competition, sliding in to convert a long throw after just five minutes.

Riyad Mahrez then blasted in a stunning free-kick to double the advantage for the Premier League champions.

The winger then ensured the thumping victory by converting a second half penalty after Jamie Vardy was fouled by the goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS

– Leicester looked the part in their new all-white away kit. If you’re going to mimic anyone, current holders and 11-times winners Real Madrid isn’t a bad choice!

– Whoops! The Foxes’ defence was caught horribly square as Hans Vanaken picked out Jose Izquierdo’s run. Thankfully, the Colombian shot wide to blow a golden opportunity.

– GOAL! Leicester show Bruges how it’s done with a bit of route one football. Hernandez’s long throw caused panic in the home defence and Marc Albrighton cashed in at the back post.

– Leicester fans REALLY don’t like Spurs. “Who came third in a two-horse race? Tottenham, Tottenham Hotspur,” was their favourite chant of the night.

– Ranieri’s boys were on fire but the far side assistant ref was flagging – or rather he wasn’t! The Greek official somehow managed to snap his flag and was relieved when a replacement was rushed to him.

– GOAL! Big games bring out the best in big names and last season’s PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez proved it with a pearler of a free kick!

– Talking of big names … was there a bigger name in Europe last night than Greek assistant ref Charalambos Kalogeropoulos? Thought not!

– Thousands of seats are empty because Bruges fans didn’t think Leicester were sexy enough opponents! One first half spanking later …..

– The half-time stats showed Leicester were streets ahead of Bruges in most departments – except POSSESSION and passing. Old habits die hard!

– Bruges boss Michel Preud-Homme has been like a caged lion on the touchline and is off down the tunnel sharpish at the break to have a word in a few ears!

– Bruges goalie Ludovic Butelle had a night to forget but he produced the coolest or riskiest move of the night – dummying the ball with Jamie Vardy five yards away!

– Guess what happened next? Vardy’s pace took him clear of the Bruges defence and Butelle up-ended him to concede a penalty.

– Riyad Mahrez put his penalty miss against Swansea behind him to coolly slot home from the spot.

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Club Brugge: Butelle 4, Van Rhihn 6, Engels 6 (Poulain, 6), Denswil 5, De Bock 7, Vormer 5, Simons 6, Pina 6, Venaken 6, Diaby 5 (Vossen 63, 6), Izquierdo 6 (Gedoz 78, 6).

Subs not used: Bruzesse; Claudemir, Cools, Bolingoli.

Bookings: Simons (27), Engels (34), Butelle (60), Vormer (90)

Leicester City: Schmeichel 6, Hernández 7, Huth 7, Morgan 7, Fuchs 7, Mahrez 8 (Gray 81, 6), Drinkwater 7, Amartey 7, Albrighton 8, Slimani 6 (Ulloa 62, 6), Vardy 7 (Musa 70, 6).

Subs not used: Zieler; Chilwell, King, Wasilewski.

Bookings: Slimani (48), Ulloa (90)

STAR MAN: MAHREZ AND ALBRIGHTON

THEY SAID

Marc Albrighton: “To score the goal was an unbelievable feeling.

“It was just how I’d seen it in my dreams.”

Riyad Mahrez: “It’s a good start, but we have to clear our minds and focus again for a big game on Saturday.”

Claudio Ranieri: “It was important to start well and it was a good match.

“Sometimes we did well, but at times we were anxious.”