The Foxes were 2-0 up after 14 minutes in a game they needed to win to finish above nearest rivals, Sporting Braga. Leicester City will be seeded in Monday’s Europa League last-32 draw after sealing top spot in Group G with victory over AEK Athens.
They went ahead through Cengiz Under‘s volley, the Turkey winger’s first goal since signing on a season-long loan. England winger Harvey Barnes doubled the lead with a heavily deflected finish.
Progress adds to feel-good factor
Fourth in the Premier League table, three points behind leaders Tottenham, Leicester can now look forward to the knockout stage of the Europa League.
They finished on 13 points, the same number as Braga, but claimed top spot thanks a superior head-to-head record over their Portuguese rivals. Two-time European champions Benfica and Real Sociedad, who sit second in La Liga, are among the unseeded teams Brendan Rodgers’ side could face in February.
Leicester have overcome a number of injury setbacks to make steady progress, while the Europa League has given Rodgers the opportunity to give some of his younger players a chance to gain European experience.
Luke Thomas followed his goal at Sporting Braga last month with an assist for Barnes, who cut into the penalty area to score after the 19-year-old’s ball over the top.
France Under-21 defender Wesley Fofana, also 19 and one of the finds of the season, finished the game with a 93% passing accuracy rate, while full-back James Justin gave another assured performance. Having won just one of their previous five group games, AEK Athens were playing for pride.
Yet they offered very little threat and keeper Danny Ward was not required to make a serious save. Under’s finish was exquisite, the on-loan player from Roma punishing Stratos Svarnas’ mistake by lashing the ball into the net.
Two minutes later it was 2-0, Barnes cutting into the penalty area before his shot ended up in the net after a heavy deflection off Ionut Nedelcearu. It could have been more as Leicester carved out 16 chances, including six on target, in a dominant performance.
Source – BBC News
