Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FLYING FOXES’ BRAGA RIGHTS
Leicester Sporting Braga
LEICESTER’S season collapsed last term as their resources were stretched but they appear to have more strength this time around.
The Foxes were able to leave top scorer Jamie Vardy on the bench but still won in style. Replacement Kelechi Iheanacho scored in either half with eightgoal Vardy in the stands for City, who are a point off the top of the Premier League.
James Maddison also impressed on his return to the side with a late goal after being a substitute in secondplaced Leicester’s 4-1 win at Leeds on Monday night.
Maddison teed up the opener and appears close to his best after missing the run-in last term with a hip injury as Brendan Rodgers’ side lost three of their last four games to blow the top four.
Maddison’s sparkle on fireworks night lit up Leicester’s display but it was Iheanacho who provided the early noise.
And if Leicester were disappointed to end up in the Europa League rather than the Champions League, they appear over it now after three successive wins in the competition.
Carlos Carvahal’s Braga arrived after winning their past six games to sit third in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. But the visitors were second best from the start and Leicester opened the scoring in the 20th minute.
Iheanacho swapped passes with Maddison on the edge of the box before tapping in from close range.
Braga keeper Matheus was powerless to stop Leicester going 2-0 ahead, as Iheanacho let fly from distance with a left-foot shot on the turn which deflected off Viana. The Nigerian striker unselfishly teed up sub Dennis Praet to tap into an empty net. He was subbed after being fortunate to escape a red for taking out Joao Novais. Maddison made it 4-0 with a low leftfoot finish.
LEICESTER: Schmeichel 7, Justin 7, Fofana 8, Fuchs 7, Albrighton (Morgan 62, 6), Tielemans 7 (Barnes 72, 6), Choudhury 7, Thomas 7, Under 6 (Praet 62, 7), Maddison 8,Iheanacho 8 (Perez 72, 6)
Matheus 6, Esgaio 6, Viana 5, Carmo 6, Silva 5, Horta 6 (Medeiros 62, 6), Musrati 6, Novais 6, Paulinho 5 (Gaitan 71, 6), Ruiz 5, Galeno 5 (Moura 71, 5)