Sevilla manage 2-1 win over Leicester City

Leicester have gone from the surprise package to the prize scalp in the Premier League, but are likely to be able to play the way they did last season against Sevilla.

Sevilla paid relegated Getafe just £850,000 for Sarabia last summer, the winger since weighing in with nine goals and 11 assists, and he nearly added to the former with a cross-shot that Schmeichel needed to parry away to his right. “They did very little but succeeded in the end. They deserve our respect”.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri heaped praise on the Europa League holders, who have won five European trophies in the last decade, and confessed his love for the city of Seville, the scene of a King’s Cup triumph when he was in charge of Valencia in 1999.

“It is odd (playing in the Champions League last 16 while in a relegation battle) but like you say it’s a game where we can forget about it for one night”.

“We scored a goal that was important for three reasons: it gave us strength, it got Vardy back among the goals and for a striker your confidence depends on scoring, and it kept us in the tie”.

“We know they are better than us, a very high-quality team, a lot of experience”, Ranieri said.

Ranieri had spoken before the game that this fixture could prove to be a turning point in a hard season. We will take that.

The goal-scorer was taken off nearly immediately to be replaced by Vicente Iborra but the home side continued to press for a third, Jovetic’s low cross from the left flashing across the face of goal with no colleague able to get a touch.

His introduction was soon followed by the Premier League champions creating a first, legitimate chance as Danny Drinkwater’s low shot was deflected just wide of a scrambling Sergio Rico.

“Listen, can you not enjoy nights like this?” said Schmeichel after the English champions’ 2-1 round of 16 first-leg defeat at a raucous Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. Vardy’s goal means Leicester have plenty to keep them dreaming of on the flight back to the east Midlands.

Iborra is Sevilla’s captain and very much a jack of all trades under Sampaoli, as he has been used all over the pitch including in defence at times and also in attack. I feel my pressure, I want always the maximum from myself and from my players. “When you play with character sometimes luck is on your side”, Ranieri told reporters. “I work to stay in the team on merit”.

“I am happy because the gulf in the match was very large”.