Leicester City booked their place in the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals after Wesley Fofana’s second-half strike sealed their safe passage.
Rennes threw the gauntlet in their bid to qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals. The Ligue 1 outfit were the underdogs going into the clash, as Leicester City came to France with a healthy 2-0 aggregate lead in this tie and with enough luck, went through narrowly into the next round.
The Foxes survived a late onslaught from Rennes, who were more determined than the Premier League club to clinch a heroic victory and advance in the process. However, Leicester’s returning hero, Wesley Fofana, made the telling difference.
The central defender had been out for over seven months with a broken foot and torn ankle ligaments. The Frenchman starting the game was a surprise, but he came up with the goods when it mattered the most.
Fofana was on hand to finish his chance early in the second half to give Leicester a commanding advantage. However, substitute Flavien Tait’s goal late in the game had the Foxes fans feeling nervous.
At that, around the 97th-minute mark, there was a huge shout from Rennes players for a penalty as the ball seemed to have struck Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s arm, although in this case, the absence of VAR saved the English outfit. Here’s how the Leicester City players fared in their narrow aggregate win over Rennes.
Leicester City are the first English side to reach the quarter-finals of both the Champions League and the UEFA Conference League.
History makers. ? pic.twitter.com/A5KUqOas9R
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 17, 2022
Kasper Schmeichel: 7/10
Schmeichel could count himself among Leicester’s saviours after the keeper made a terrific save late on to deny a goal which would have taken the game into extra time. He was solid throughout, although he had no chance to keep out either Rennes goal.
James Justin: 5/10
Justin was one of the suspect players at the back for the Foxes, as he was caught out of position for Rennes’ opener. The full-back gave the French side plenty of joy on his flank as he looked nervy all evening.
Daniel Amartey: 6.5/10
Amartey proved his defensive calibre even as Rennes continued to heap pressure on the Leicester defence. He also missed a glorious opportunity early in the second half, which could have given Leicester a massive advantage in the tie.
Wesley Fofana: 8/10
After suffering through a horrific injury, young players often do not come back mentally strong. But in Fofana’s case, it was the opposite. Not only did the young defender come back earlier than scheduled, he popped up with the most important goal of Leicester’s season so far, to help the team progress to the quarter-finals.
? You’ve received a message from Lil Wes pic.twitter.com/8P8YK4Fbpn
— Leicester City (@LCFC) March 17, 2022
Luke Thomas: 5.5/10
Thomas made some important clearances and looked switched on in the part of the game when Leicester needed their defensive stars the most. Before that, he was a bit sloppy in possession and seemed to complicate simple things when he had the ball.
Wilfred Ndidi: 6.5/10
Ndidi kept the midfield ticking with his incisive passing and helped out the defence by doing his usual screening work. His duties on the ball immensely helped Leicester relieve the pressure created by Rennes’ attackers, especially in the second half of the game.
Youri Tielemans: 5/10
The Belgian was not at his best, as he struggled to maintain any sort of control in the midfield areas. Add the many lost duels to the equation, and Tielemans had a terrible game in hindsight.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 7/10
Dewsbury-Hall is blooming into a fantastic player at Leicester as his work on the ball showed during this game. The midfielder possesses a great ability to carry balls for distances, and the skill helped the Foxes relieve themselves of some pressure when needed during the game.
Marc Albrighton: N/A
Albrighton was forced off with an injury early in the clash and did not play enough to warrant a rating.
Kelechi Iheanacho: 5.5/10
Iheanacho put in a shift in the centre-forward position, often acting as a playmaker rather than a striker. The Nigerian international’s hold-up play was excellent on the evening, which helped bring others into play.
Harvey Barnes: 6/10
Barnes was in his usual stride, always troubling the opposition defence. He could have had a goal, only for a good block to deny the opportunity, and on the other end, he also made some crucial defensive interventions.
SUBSTITUTES
Ademola Lookman: 6.5/10
A great day for Lookman, who got into the team early in the game after Albrighton’s injury. He made a telling contribution with a pinpoint corner delivery for Fofana’s goal.
James Maddison: 5/10
Maddison offered great support on the ball, as his skills came in handy to relieve some much-needed pressure off the ball.
Jannik Vestergaard: 6.5/10
He came on to help shore up the defence as Leicester looked to retain the slender lead. He did precisely what the manager wanted, making some important interventions.
Ricardo Pereira: 5/10
Pereira helped shore things up, although he had some nervy moments during his time on the pitch.
