Leicester Through, Tottenham Crashes out of Champions League

Leicester City’s remarkable debut Champions League campaign continued as they reached the knockout stages with one game to spare by beating Club Brugge.

The Foxes needed a point to make the last 16, yet secured three to ensure they will finish top of Group G.

A smart finish into the top corner by Shinji Okazaki, after a fine cross by Christian Fuchs, set Claudio Ranieri’s side on their way.

Riyad Mahrez doubled the lead from the penalty spot – for his fourth goal in five Champions League games – after Marc Albrighton was fouled by Dion Cools before Jose Izquierdo hit a wonderful consolation after a 40-yard run.

Leicester were unrecognisable from the side who have struggled in the Premier League this season.
They are the second English team, after Arsenal, to secure a place in the draw for the knockout stages on 12 December.

The Foxes sit just two points above the Premier League’s relegation zone after back-to-back defeats.

Yet Claudio Ranieri’s team cannot stop winning in Europe. Incredibly, they have picked up more points in the Champions League than the domestic league this season.

While they have lost to, among others, Hull City, West Bromwich Albion and Watford in the league, Leicester have beaten Brugge twice – as well as Porto and FC Copenhagen. It means they have 13 points from five games in Europe – yet just 12 from 12 matches domestically.

Leicester have won four Champions League games this season, but only three in the Premier League.
Elsewhere in Europe, Tottenham were knocked out of the Champions League as they were comprehensively outclassed by Monaco at Stade Louis II.

Djibril Sidibe’s header early in the second half sparked a stunning sequence of three goals in just five minutes that saw Spurs’ Champions League hopes swiftly fade, grow and fade again.

Harry Kane’s penalty, awarded when Dele Alli was pulled back, put Spurs on level terms but, just 39 seconds later, Monaco had the ball in the net again through Thomas Lemar.
Victory takes Monaco through to the last 16 as deserved winners of Group E ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, who earlier drew 1-1 at CSKA Moscow.

Tottenham, who have won just one of their five group matches, are three points behind Leverkusen with one game to play, against CSKA on 7 December, but cannot overhaul the German side because of an inferior head-to-head record.

Spurs knew a draw would be enough to keep their hopes alive, but Monaco were by far the better side and only a superb performance by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris – who saved a penalty from Radamel Falcao – spared the Premier League side further punishment.