The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Porto thrash much-changed Foxes
Woeful Leicester lost their unbeaten Champions League record as a second string side suffered a humiliating 5-0 thumping in Porto last night.
The much-changed Foxes had already qualified from Group G, while Porto reached the last 16 with victory, but barely put up a fight as they were outclassed.
Andre Silva, Jesus Corona and Yacine Brahimi scored in the first half before Silva added a second-half penalty and Diogo Jota netted a fifth.
Badly exposed and clearly lacking cohesion and confidence, the Foxes were embarrassed on a regular basis as their season threatens to go from bad to worse.
The last time Leicester lost by five goals or more away from home was against Portsmouth in the Championship in 2010 but, even putting their Champions League qualification into context, it was a humiliation.
With Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Robert Huth left home, Claudio Ranieiri’s shadow squad never got close to the 2004 champions as the Italian gambled on reviving their Premier League season by resting his big names.
Two points above the relegation zone and with Manchester City visiting on Saturday the champions need to save their faltering season but at least have a last 16 tie next year to cling on to.
While changes were expected Ranieri sprung a surprise by picking Ben Hamer, with the goalkeeper’s last club appearance coming against Walsall in the Checkatrade Trophy.
The 29-year-old had not played for the senior side for almost two years while Marcin Wasilewski made just his second senior appearance of the season – having been sent off in his last one against Chelsea in the EFL Cup.