Leicester City 3 - 0 Burnley: The Slimani show
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17 : Manager Claudio Ranieri of Leicester City welcomes manager Sean Dyche of Burnley to King Power Stadium ahead of the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Burnley at the King Power Stadium on September 17th , 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
This weekend saw Leicester City beat newly promoted Burnley 3 – 0 as Islam Slimani has his dream debut at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester City will be on a high after winning their first ever Champions League fixture in the clubs history and now beating Burnley at home.
The foxes traveled to Belgium on Wednesday to face Belgian champions Club Brugge, a fixture that turned out to be easier for the travelling side than expected.
With two goals from PFA Player of The Year Riyad Mahrez and an opening goal from winger Marc Albrighton, Leicester won comfortably.
This hasn’t been the case for the Premier League champions in the league however.
Leicester City had a rough start to the season going into their match against Burnley.
After picking up just 4 points from 4 games following their title winning season last season, fans were expecting a big showing against Burnley in a game that they’re expected to win.
The season started with calamity as an injury ridden Hull City beat the foxes 2 – 1 in the first round of fixtures.
After which, London giants Arsenal traveled to the East Midlands, a game that ended in a goal-less draw.
Leicester City registered their first win at home against Swansea City during a 2 – 1 defeat in torrential rain but they couldn’t keep this form up.
Their last fixture saw them not only lose, but get thrashed by Klopp’s Liverpool in a 4 – 1 defeat.
Claudio Ranieri will be hoping to turn their luck around in the coming weeks.
Today’s starting XI.#LeiBurpic.twitter.com/UTojkeXqbI
— Leicester City (@LCFC) September 17, 2016
Due to a concussion, Kasper Schmeichel was left out of the side.
Along with a change at right-back with Danny Simpson stepping back in after missing out on Champions League football in the week, he replaced Luis Hernandez.
Islam Slimani also featured, which saw his Premier League debut after playing for 60 minutes in Belgium.
Today’s line-up for the Clarets is as follows #ClaretsLIVE pic.twitter.com/vcsUXCDs3H
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) September 17, 2016
Sean Dyche’s Burnley squad had the joint lowest number of shots on target this season going into the match, with just 7. A record they shared with Stoke City.
Despite a largely uninspiring starting 11 for the Clarets, Andre Gray is always one to look out for.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: The preimer leauge ball being used in week 5 of the preimer leauge during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Burnley at The King Power Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
First Half
Leicester City got the game underway as the kicked off.
In the third minute Islam Slimani unselfishly played through Marc Albrighton on the left however his shot was blocked.
Things got off to a good start for the debutant who was looking fired up.
4 minutes later we saw Riyad Mahrez beat three Burnley players on the right hand side before winning a corner.
A massive improvement early on for the PFA ‘Player of The Year’ after a hit and miss start to the season.
The 10th minute saw the ball bounce around the Burnley box after a corner kick, struggling to get the ball out Burnley looked rattled, however a foul from Huth relieved the pressure.
The 15th minute saw Burnley have their first corner and a strong header from Leicester City summer target Keane had foxes fans hearts in their mouth but the referee blew for a freekick as the youngster climbed all over Huth to beat him to the ball.
The 19th minute saw space open up for Burnley’s debutant Hendrick to take a 25 yard shot which went well wide of the mark.
If they’ve been shooting like that all season it’s no wonder that they only registered 7 shots on target before the match.
the 25th minute saw Riyad Mahrez really turn it on.
As he twisted and turned into the box he looked a real danger. Taking the ball on to his weaker right foot he forced a save out of Burnley’s keeper Heaton who used his feet to block the shot.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Tom Heaton of Burnley makes a save from Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Burnley at The King Power Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
The 33rd minute saw Leicester City drive forward on a break.
Islam Slimani slotted the ball through perfectly for Danny Drinkwater however Heaton beat Drinkwater to the ball which came back out to Riyad Mahrez.
After turning the Burnley defender Mahrez drove a low cross in which was easily blocked.
Burnley’s first effort on target came in the 36th minute as Afield headed the ball to Defour following George Boyd’s looping cross.
Defour connected well however the ball headed straight for Zieler.
Just a minute later Leicester break down the left with Fuchs who whipped a perfect ball in to Riyad Mahrez who was just inches away from scoring!
Leicester City really began to turn it on at this point. In the 44th minute Marc Albrighton swung a perfect in-swinging cross into Islam Slimani who fails to get his head on the ball.
Just minutes later in the first minute of stoppage time, Christian Fuchs crossed in a freekick right onto Islam Slimani’s head who fires the ball past Tom Heaton.
The Algerian celebrates with his new found team-mates as he puts the foxes 1 – 0 ahead just before halftime. The perfect start to his Premier League career with Leicester City.
Leicester go into the break 1 – 0 up!
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Islam Slimani of LeicesterCity celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Burnley at The King Power Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Second Half
Burnley got the second half underway.
Just two minutes into the second half Islam Slimani strikes again!
Following Jamie Vardy’s flick, Riyad Mahrez crossed the ball to Slimani who calmly puts the ball past Tom Heaton. Opta Joe is going to have to update his Twitter!
2 – 0 to Leicester!
The 52nd minute saw Drinkwater try and set Vardy loose however Jamie’s cross is overhit as he looks for Slimani who at this point was on a hat-trick.
5 minutes later saw Burnley make their first substation as Sean Dyche brings off Arfield to make way for Berg Gudmundsson. It was time for the Clarets to try something different as their game plan up to this point clearly hadn’t worked.
The 62nd minute saw Jamie Vardy set off Riyad Mahrez who brings the ball down as if his shoes had glue on!
Vardy continued his run into the box however Mahrez over hits the cross and it went out for a goal kick.
The 68th minute saw Leicester receive a corner which found it’s way to Mahrez who blasted it narrowly over the bar.
Another corner kick in the 68th minute saw Christian Fuchs almost score his first ever goal in a Leicester shirt as his powerful shot is deflected wide.
Things go from bad to worse for Burnley in the 78th minute!
After being played through by Slimani, Riyad Mahrez’s quick feet allowed him to beat the Burnley left-back and after a dangerous cross in, Ben Mee looks to clear the ball.
A miss-kick saw Mee put the ball into his own net! Oh dear oh dear. 3 – 0 to Leicester!
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Ben Mee of Burnley shows defection after scoring a own goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Burnley at The King Power Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Following a foul by Amartey, Burnley substitute Berg Gudmundsson fires a freekick at the Leicester goal, drawing a save out of Zieler.
The 85th minute saw Riyad Mahrez get a standing ovation as he makes way for Demarai Gray.
3 minutes later Albrighton was taken out from behind by Burnley right-back Lowton who picked up a yellow card. Some could consider him lucky to have not received a red card for the dangerous tackle.
In the second minute of stoppage time Sam Vokes hit the ball from distance, however like the majority of Burnley’s shots, it flies well off target.
After 3 minutes of stoppage time the referee blews the whistle for full time.
Leicester head off into their dressing room having won 3 – 0!
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Islam Slimani of Leicester City (L) and Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrate after Ben Mee of Burnley scores a own goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Burnley at The King Power Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Post-Match Thoughts
A brilliant display from Leicester City saw them thrash the newly promoted Burnley side 3 – 0.
Looking at the scoreline and goal-scorers, many would assume it was the Slimani show this afternoon but this detracts from the overall team effort.
It was a brilliant team performance along with a fantastic individual showing from the man himself who bagged himself two goals on his Premier League debut.
His countryman Riyad Mahrez seems to have woken up this week following his midweek freekick against Club Brugge.
Many criticised his performances in the opening games of the Premier League season, some saying he has looked lethargic.
Others saying that he has looked uninterested after signing his new contract. This wasn’t the case today.
His forward runs and dangerous crosses caused no end of problems for Burnley’s defence and it was his dangerous play that bought the 3rd goal as Ben Mee put the ball in his own net.
As for Burnley, it’s no wonder that they’re in the position that they’re in during the opening weeks of the Premier League.
After a fantastic performance against Liverpool they have failed to kick on with just 4 points from 5 games.
Unlike during their 2 – 0 win against Liverpool, Sean Dyche’s team look anything but a threat. Perhaps the scoreline that week flattered.
With just two shots on target work needs to be done on the training ground for the clarets.
Andre Gray who scored 23 goals last season had no service from his team-mates and when Burnley managed to get the ball back from Leicester, they were very sloppy in possession.
Leicester City’s next game see’s Chelsea travel from London with N’Golo Kante making his return to the King Power.
Another tough test for Claudio Ranieri’s men who have already faced Liverpool and Arsenal.
Conte’s team will be tough to breakdown despite conceding 2 goals against Liverpool on Friday in their 2 – 1 loss.
Leicester City however will be confident that if they play in the manner they played in today, that they’ll get a result.
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