FC Copenhagen vs Leicester City. UEFA Champions League Group G.
Telia ParkenAttendance34,146.
Wednesday 2 November 2016 19:45, UK
Leicester can qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League if they beat Copenhagen in Denmark on Wednesday evening.
The Foxes have made a blistering start to their maiden European campaign, winning their first three games to open a five-point gap at the top of Group G.
Claudio Ranieri's men can book their place in the last 16 with two games to spare if they win this week, and if Porto fail to beat Club Brugge in the other game, they will also go through as group winners.
In his usual casual style, Ranieri is urging his side to focus on the task in hand at the Telia Parken.
"I understand that everyone wants to win tomorrow, but for us, it is important that we have everything in our hands. We can write a new chapter of Leicester's story," he said at a pre-match press conference.
"Maybe it is not tomorrow, but it is important now to concentrate because Copenhagen is a well-organised side. I respect the team a lot."
Copenhagen are five points behind Group G leaders Leicester after a 1-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium last month and are aiming to stop the Foxes from winning at Parken.
"When it is a home game we maybe have to risk something more than we did in some periods at their stadium," boss Stale Solbakken said.
"We know we have had many historic nights in the Champions League. We have beaten better teams than Leicester and lost to worse teams."
Team news
Leicester will be without record signing Islam Slimani, who is still recovering from a groin injury. Ranieri does not want to risk the Algeria international in Denmark.
Nampalys Mendy remains out with an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined since August, but Ahmed Musa is fit after suffering a knock scoring against Tottenham at the weekend.
Kasper Schmeichel will also play in the country he represents at national level as an opponent on Wednesday, with his home in the city just two minutes from the ground.
Andreas Cornelius and Federico Santander are the danger men for Copenhagen and are expected to start tomorrow. Danny Amankwaa is the only player expected to miss out, although Nicolai Boilesen and Bashkim Kadrii are doubtful.
Opta stats
Copenhagen have lost only two of their 11 home games in the Champions League (W6 D3).
Leicester are only the fifth team in Champions League history to win their opening three games in the competition (Milan in 92/93, PSG in 94/95, Juventus in 95/96 and Malaga in 12/13).
Indeed, Leicester are one of only three teams to keep clean sheets in their opening three Champions League games (Parma in 97/98 and Malaga in 12/13).
On each of the previous 64 occasions when a side has won their opening three Champions League group stage games, they have gone on to progress to the next stage (including the second group stage).
Copenhagen have already scored more goals this season (5) than they did in their last Champions League group stage appearance (4 in 2013/14).
Copenhagen's five goals in this season's Champions League have all been scored after half-time.
Riyad Mahrez has been directly involved in four of Leicester's five Champions League goals, scoring three times and claiming an assist.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
Leicester looked better at Tottenham, especially in the second half. Defensively, they looked a lot more solid and they could have nicked it in the end.
They're in a great position and a draw would still leave them in total control. I know they want a win so they can relax, but these games are awkward.
I've done a lot of games like this, where you arrive at tricky little grounds with tight little pitches and you don't really feel the glamour of being in the Champions League.
This is a must-win for Copenhagen and I understand why Sky Bet make them favourites. I think they'll get the win to blow this group wide open.
If I'm looking at the goalscorer market then Leicester are still vulnerable from set-pieces. It looks a banker they'll concede from another one right now and Federico Santander is a real threat in the air.
Charlie predicts: 2-1 and Santander to score first (28/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
FC Copenhagen are 6/5 favourites for the victory with Sky Bet, with Leicester 23/10 to maintain their perfect Champions League record and 9/4 to secure a draw. Ranieri's men are just 1/5 to win Group G and 1/50 to qualify, with their hosts 11/8 third favourites for reach the final 16.
Cornelius and Santander are considered the hosts' main threats as the 9/2 joint favourites in the first goalscorer betting, while Slimani and Jamie Vardy are 13/2 apiece on the hosts' side of the betting.
