Foxes on slay ride Leicester hope their summer signing Slimani can down the Dragons again
LEICESTER will unleash the ‘Dragon Slayer’ on Porto tonight as Claudio Ranieri looks to deliver more glory in the Champions League.
Ranieri’s side hope to build on their 3-0 win in Bruges by making it two wins from two on their debut in Europe’s top club competition, with record signing Islam Slimani looking to pile more misery on the Portuguese club.
The £30 million Algerian has already scored five goals in three games against Porto this year and signed off from former club Sporting Lisbon with a goal in a 2-1 win in August.
His record of in just eight games overall for Sporting against a club known six goals as the Dragons earned him the nickname the ‘Dragon Slayer’.
Now, after marking his Premier League debut with a brace against Burnley, Slimani has been giving his new manager tips on how to upset his old adversaries.
“Yes, I spoke with him about Porto,” confirmed Ranieri. “We approached each other about it.
“We have a lot of respect for Porto, they are a lot more experienced team in Europe. They have played so many matches in the Champions League and are used to staying at the top of their league – and have won six titles in the last 10 years.
“We respect them a lot but we will also try to win. Slimani has scored so many times against Porto, I’m sure he’ll be a threat to them.”
But Ranieri knows victory over Porto will also depend on plugging the defensive gaps that have blighted the start of Leicester’s Premier League title defence.
They let in four goals at Manchester United on Saturday and, having conceded just 11 times in their final 20 matches last season, have shipped the same number in six league games this term.
The players have admitted to Ranieri they were scared of being punished for fouls under a new Premier League directive to crack down on grappling.
Ranieri, however, has ordered them to revert to their previous approach on defending set pieces tonight, despite the presence of hardline referee Cuneyt Cakir.
Turkish official Cakir has issued 11 yellow cards and one red in his past two domestic games and has previously sent off Steven Gerrard for England against (4-4-2) SCHMEICHEL; SIMPSON, MORGAN, HUTH, FUCHS; MAHREZ, AMARTEY, DRINKWATER, ALBRIGHTON; VARDY, SLIMANI. (4-4-2) CASILLAS; LAYUN, MARCANO, FELIPE, TELLES; DANILO, TORRES, ANDRE ANDRE, OTAVIO; SILVA, DEPOITRE. REF: C Cakir (Turkey). TV: BT Sport 2. KICK-OFF: 7.45pm. Ukraine and Chelsea’s John Terry against Barcelona in the Champions League.
Three of United’s four goals came from corners and Ranieri said: “I spoke to the players and they were scared. But the referees did not speak about a new rule, it’s something we’re used to doing.
“I said, ‘Why change?’ Last season we were one of the best in the league and conceded very few goals from set pieces. Now we leave players four metres away! “We have to go back to our strength. They are a little scared but the referees told them the rule is the same – we can pull.” Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is expected to return after missing three matches with a groin problem but midfielder Nampalys Mendy will be absent again with an ankle problem.
Winger Marc Albrighton, who scored the club’s first Champions League goal at Bruges, believes another win tonight would take them a giant step towards the knockout phase.
“We got off to a great start,” he said. “The bread and butter is your home games and if you win them it will take you far in this competition.
“It will be a fantastic occasion. We were organised in Bruges and scored goals at good times. We have to be as organised and compact as we were in that game.
“We’ve done our work in the meetings and found out what we need to know about Porto. Hopefully we’ve left
no stone unturned.”