Leicester City will make their first ever appearance in the Champions League Round of 16 when they travel to Spain to face an in-form Sevilla side. The Foxes have crumbled under the weight of expectations and their botched up Premier League title defence sees them on the brink of a relegation dogfight. Ranieri has stressed on the game as an opportunity which could still turn their season around as a shock win or a positive result will have the potential to galvanise the group and get them going in the domestic league as well.
But the ask might be too much in the end as the difference in quality and current form is there for all to see and the home advantage will see Sevilla start as the overwhelming favourites.
TRIVIA (Courtesy: Opta)
- This is the first competitive encounter between Sevilla and Leicester City.
- Leicester have never beaten Spanish opposition in European competition (D1 L3), with all games coming against Atlético Madrid (1961/62 Cup Winners Cup and 1997/98 UEFA Cup).
- Meanwhile, Sevilla have lost three of their four Champions League games against English opposition (W1), their only win coming against Arsenal at home in November 2007 (3-1).
- Leicester City are the first team since Malaga in 2012/13 to finish top of their group on their Champions League debut.
- Sevilla have reached the Champions League knockout stages in three of their four appearances. However, they’ve never gone past the round of 16.
- Sevilla have kept more clean sheets than any other side in this season’s Champions League (5 in 6 games).
- However, Sevilla and Leicester City only scored seven goals in the group stages, the lowest tally among teams left in this season’s competition alongside Atlético Madrid.
- Sevilla have won 10 of their 14 Champions League games (D1 L3) at home and have never failed to score in any of those 14 outings.
TEAM NEWS & PREDICTED LINE-UPS
SEVILLA (4-1-3-2)
Sevilla have a number of injuries but most of them are long-term and won’t affect the present scenario for the team who have won the Europa League for the past 3 seasons. Nicolas Pareja suffered a groin injury and will be assessed. Mercado is suspended for one match.
Rico; Escudero, Lenglet, Raml, Mariano; N’Zonzi; Nasri, Vasquez, Sarabia; Jovetic, Ben Yedder
LEICESTER CITY (4-4-1-1)
Islam Slimani remains out for Leicester as he struggles to overcome a groin injury. Leonardo Ulloa is unlikely to feature as he nurses a thigh problem while Robert Huth is in danger of missing the second leg having collected two bookings in Europe this season.
Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Albrighton, N’Didi, Drinkwater, Mahrez; Okazaki; Vardy
BETTING ODDS
SEVILLA- 4/11
DRAW- 17/4
LEICESTER CITY- 9/1
