Three things we learned: Sevilla 2-1 Leicester
By Pete Hall
Leicester more than fortunate to be still alive in a tie that should have been put to bed
How on earth are Leicester still in this tie? For 73 minutes the Foxes chased shadows in the Andalusian humidity, with Sevilla passing the ball around with finesse, constantly creating chances, while supporters sat back, chatted among themselves, casting aside aside their pipas shells at will.
The Foxes fans had been having the time of their lives around Sevilla’s stunning old town, but despite the copious amounts of cervezas, they won't have been enjoying the footballing lesson being dished out to them.
Then, out of absolute nowhere, Jamie Vardy scored his first ever Champions League goal and the Foxes travel back to England with a decent result to work with.
Sergio Rico had been a mere spectator up until that point, having only faced one shot on target. The Foxes finished the match with 24.5 per cent possession, having faced 23 shots in the match, and but will be flying back to the East Midlands happy. Baffling.
“We know they are better than us,” Ranieri confessed post match. “They are a big team, an experienced team, but we have a very big heart.
"I think we are underdogs because they are very high quality, but we will play and suffer in the second leg. We will do our best. If we lose it's because they put in a fantastic performance.
The gulf in class was obvious, but that matters little thanks to Vardy’s strike. That one goal not only galvanised their hopes of continuing their Champions League adventure, but will breathe fresh life into their relegation dogfight.
Another inept showing leads us to question what has happened to Riyad Mahrez?
You won’t see many worse performances at any level than Riyad Mahrez in the first half at the Sanchez Pizjuan. The Algerian Mahrez only touched the ball 22 times and gave the ball away on 11 occasions. A 28.6 per cent pass completion rate is not good enough in League Two, never mind Europe’s top table.
He did improve markedly after the break, with some marauding runs causing there Sevilla backline plenty of problems, but still we wait to see if he can rekindle any of the fire from last season.
Pre-match, a group of Leicester fans pointed out that what has hurt Mahrez this season is the Foxes over-reliance on him. They suggest that with Claudio Ranieri running out of ideas, Mahrez’s team-mates give him the ball and expect him to do something, without offering any real support.
As the first half wore on, this certainly wasn’t the case in Andalusia, as Danny Drinkwater looked for other outlets on the rare occasions when a man in blue had the ball at his feet, wary of just how little rhythm Mahrez was finding.
Mahrez and Vardy have been the most disappointing in Leicester’s woeful recent form, both looking shadows of the players that stopped the big two player awards for last season.
Vardy’s goal against the run of the play may well galvanise him just at the right time. Mahrez needs a similar boost, and fast. His stock is falling game by game.
They didn’t get the job done, but Sevilla are a joy to behold in full flow
Sevilla’s famous club anthem certainly got the pulses racing pre-match, as fans passionately bellowed El Arrebato from the stands, but it was some of the football on show that really got everyone in attendance so hot under the collar.
The hosts were relentless in the first half, and should have been out of sight 45 minutes into the tie. Kasper Schmeichel was inspired, Joaquin Correa did his best Gareth Southgate impression from ehe spot, but the football was still scintillating.
It is always attack, attack, attack with Sampaoli. Sergio Escudero’s role in the side summed it up. Deployed on the left of a back three, the 27-year-old was arriving on the edge of the box to draw a fine save from Schemichel after 22 minutes, before supplying Pablo Sarabia with the perfect cross to head the home side in front three minutes later.
Samir Nasri was looked like Zinedine Zidane from a distance, and alongside Steven N’Zonzi, the former Premier League pair were running the show.
Stevan Jovetic continues to look like an astute signing up front, while Vitolo on the flank took on bamboozled Foxes at will. It was exhilarating to watch.
"We had all sorts of chances but hit the post and crossbar," Sampaoli said post match. "Our opponents only had a few chances, but now we have to go to Leicester for the win. We wanted to confuse our opponents a bit by getting our forwards to change positions.
"Still, it was possible to create many chances against a team that sat very deep. That's not easy.”
That element of surprise really was the undoing of the Foxes, but that lifeline of a strike from Vardy means all the flamboyance matters little. Bloody football.