Leicester v Club Brugge preview: Foxes one point from Champions League knock-out stages

Leicester require at least a draw at home to Club Brugge on Tuesday to guarantee a place in the Champions League knock-out round.

The Premier League champions will top the group with one game to spare if they win and Porto fail to beat Copenhagen.

However, victories for both Leicester and Porto would mean top spot is decided when the two sides meet in Portugal on December 7.

Leicester's exploits in Europe has defied their Premier League form, but boss Claudio Ranieri has dismissed suggestions the Foxes have been distracted by the Champions League.

Saturcday's 2-1 defeat at Watford left Leicester two points above the relegation zone and they have lost twice as many games, six, as they did during last season's shock triumph.

"I don't think it's a distraction. It's enjoyment. I don't see the difference," said Ranieri.

"If you see the match against Watford and the match against Copenhagen or Brugge or Porto, it's the same. The difference is in the Champions League matches we score, in the other matches no.

"Our focus is this: try to win tomorrow and then go back into the Premier League and try to improve our table."

Team news

Leicester's record £30m signing Islam Slimani is out of the match, having suffered a groin injury which also saw him miss Saturday's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Watford.

Kasper Schmeichel remains out with the hand he fractured in Leicester's 0-0 draw in Copenhagen earlier this month while Nampalys Mendy and Ben Chilwell (both ankle) are sidelined for Claudio Ranieri's side.

Opta stats

Club Brugge are winless in their last nine games against English clubs in all competitions (D2 L7), failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those games.

Club Brugge's only previous encounters with English clubs in the European Cup/Champions League both ended in defeat: 0-1 v Liverpool in the 1978 final and 0-3 v Leicester City in this season's group stages.

Leicester's two home games in this season's Champions League have both ended 1-0, with Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani involved on both goals as goalscorer and assist provider.

Leicester are the first team in Champions League history to keep a clean sheet in each of their opening four games. Indeed, Kasper Schmeichel - who broke his hand in the last CL game against Copenhagen - has saved all 11 shots on target he has faced.

Leicester could also become the first team since Malaga in 2012/13 to win their group in their first Champions League appearance.

Only Rostov have averaged a lower passing accuracy (68%) than Leicester (71%) in this season's Champions League.

Club Brugge have managed just one clean sheet in their last 13 Champions League matches.

Club Brugge have scored only three goals in their last 10 Champions League away games.

Jamie Vardy has had two shots on target in his first 334 minutes in the Champions League, none of them have found the back of the net.

Charlie's prediction

The great unpredictable Leicester City! They handled the pressure at the end of last season incredibly well but they've been so disappointing this season.

Claudio Ranieri has told everybody the headline maker will be making the last 16 but, while I don't see them getting dragged into a relegation battle, I see the confidence has drained out of them from their domestic form.

This is the game, with his pace on the break, where Jamie Vardy has to deliver and show why he deserved the big contract in the summer.

The combination isn't the same with Islam Slimani as it was with Shinji Okazaki and I'd like to see them go back to the formula for success they found.

They won comfortably in Bruges and I do think they'll get over the line here, but it might take one or two late goals for them to do it.

Charlie predicts: 2-0 and Okazaki to score first - 20/1 with Sky Bet

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