Despite all of their domestic troubles this season, defending Premier League champions Leicester City have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Whilst a last-eight clash with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid awaits, the Foxes will be quietly confident of a historic victory – and it would take a brave man to bet against Leicester on current form.
Since Claudio Ranieri’s departure, Leicester have been simply sublime, winning four games in a row. The likes of Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Wes Morgan have stepped up to the plate and the Foxes have started to pull away from the fierce relegation battle below. A 3-2 triumph away at West Ham in their most recent league game will only help to spur Leicester on as they battle for a place in the semi-finals of Europe’s elite club competition.
An away fixture at Vicente Calderon will put Leicester’s capabilities to the test but it would be foolish to rule the Foxes out just yet. Atletico were ruthless when finishing above Bayern Munich in the group stages but their recent form isn’t as strong and Leicester fans will know that, although victory over two legs will be difficult, Craig Shakespeare’s men might be able to get at Atletico if they go for the jugular.
Leicester will find it tough but punters will be quietly confident of an upset of the highest order come the quarter-final round. The Foxes, currently priced at 5/2 to reach the semi-finals, are on the verge of something special for the second year in a row and punters may look at the bet365 new account offer in order to maximise profit. After all, the English side will need plenty of luck to advance…
The Spanish outfit have been on a decent run in La Liga, but their form pales in comparison to Leicester’s sudden resurgence. A few draws here and there have all but ended Atletico’s slim hopes of claiming the title and they are in a direct battle with Sevilla for third place. Diego Simeone’s men came up trumps when the two sides went head-to-head in March; Atletico actually won 3-1 in that particular clash.
If the Foxes continue to build momentum and confidence ahead of April’s double header, there is absolutely no reason why they cannot advance to the last four. Leicester will head into the contest as underdogs but when was that stopped the Foxes in the past? If anything, the defending Premier League champions may enjoy being afforded the underdog status as they look to defy the odds once again.
We’re now at the business end of the competition and it might be time for Leicester to put all of their eggs in one basket and go all out for European glory. Premier League survival is the priority but the Foxes should be good enough to avoid relegation if they maintain their current form. Leicester’s story is known worldwide but there could be another chapter in the not-so-distant future.