Europa League - Group G
LeicesterLeicester City3Zorya LuhanskZorya Luhansk0

Leicester City 3-0 Zorya Luhansk: Harvey Barnes excels in Europa League win

By Tom RostanceBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section European Footballcomments18

Harvey Barnes
Leicester had two Englishman (James Maddison & Harvey Barnes) score in a single European game for the first time since September 1961 against Glenavon in the Cup Winners' Cup (Kenneth Keyworth, Hugh McIlmoyle & Gordon Wills)

England internationals James Maddison and Harvey Barnes scored their first European goals as Leicester marked their return to continental action with a comfortable home win.

The Foxes had looked set to secure Champions League football for the majority of last season but set about their task in the second-tier competition with zest after a sticky start.

Ukrainian visitors Zorya had their moments in the opening stages and Kasper Schmeichel was called into serious action with the score at 0-0.

But even without the injured Jamie Vardy, Brendan Rodgers' side ultimately had too much.

Barnes, the standout performer on the night, curled a shot against the post and when Kelechi Iheanacho flicked the loose ball out, Maddison had a simple finish.

Barnes then ran through the heart of the Zorya defence to clip in a second and Iheanacho took advantage of a defensive lapse to score the third.

The match was also notable as Stephanie Frappart - who became the first female referee to officiate a major men's European match when she took charge of last year's Uefa Super Cup - made an immaculate Europa League debut.

Barnes offers cutting edge

With Vardy in the stands with a calf injury, there was concern over where the Leicester goal threat may come from.

But, with replacement Iheanacho tending to drop deeper and get involved in some great link-up play, it was the pace of Barnes running in behind who stretched the game.

A constant threat throughout, Barnes ended the night with five shots on goal and created two chances, while his individual goal was sublimely taken.

At the other end, Schmeichel was one of just two starters who played in Leicester's last game in Europe - the Champions League quarter-final of 2017 - and his early save from Vladyslav Kabaev was key.

Barnes and Maddison then took charge of the game as Leicester showed enough to suggest they could go deep in this marathon competition.

Player of the match

IheanachoKelechi Iheanacho

with an average of 8.19

Leicester City

  1. Squad number14Player nameIheanacho
    Average rating

    8.19

  2. Squad number3Player nameFofana
    Average rating

    8.18

  3. Squad number15Player nameBarnes
    Average rating

    8.08

  4. Squad number27Player nameCastagne
    Average rating

    7.73

  5. Squad number6Player nameEvans
    Average rating

    7.66

  6. Squad number10Player nameMaddison
    Average rating

    7.66

  7. Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel
    Average rating

    7.50

  8. Squad number24Player nameMendy
    Average rating

    7.48

  9. Squad number28Player nameFuchs
    Average rating

    7.42

  10. Squad number8Player nameTielemans
    Average rating

    7.40

  11. Squad number26Player namePraet
    Average rating

    7.35

  12. Squad number2Player nameJustin
    Average rating

    6.87

  13. Squad number5Player nameMorgan
    Average rating

    6.74

  14. Squad number19Player nameÜnder
    Average rating

    6.72

  15. Squad number20Player nameChoudhury
    Average rating

    6.47

  16. Squad number17Player nameAyoze Pérez
    Average rating

    6.27

Zorya Luhansk

  1. Squad number22Player nameKabaev
    Average rating

    5.78

  2. Squad number15Player nameVernydub
    Average rating

    5.64

  3. Squad number4Player nameCvek
    Average rating

    5.42

  4. Squad number80Player nameYurchenko
    Average rating

    5.39

  5. Squad number10Player nameKhomchenovskyi
    Average rating

    5.36

  6. Squad number27Player nameNazaryna
    Average rating

    5.29

  7. Squad number7Player nameKochergin
    Average rating

    5.26

  8. Squad number45Player nameFavorov
    Average rating

    5.16

  9. Squad number97Player nameCiganiks
    Average rating

    5.09

  10. Squad number21Player nameIvanisenya
    Average rating

    5.06

  11. Squad number8Player nameLunev
    Average rating

    4.94

  12. Squad number9Player namePerovic
    Average rating

    4.91

  13. Squad number50Player nameGryn
    Average rating

    4.88

  14. Squad number11Player nameGladkiy
    Average rating

    4.82

  15. Squad number30Player nameShevchenko
    Average rating

    4.76

  16. Squad number5Player nameRufati
    Average rating

    4.28

Maiden win for Foxes - the stats

  • Leicester have picked up their first victory in the Uefa Cup/Europa League at the fifth attempt (D1 L3).
  • English sides remain unbeaten against Ukrainian teams on home soil in European competition (P33 W26 D7).
  • James Maddison has scored twice in his last three appearances in all competitions, as many as in his previous 25 games for Leicester City.
  • Leicester's Kelechi Iheanacho became the first Nigerian to assist two goals in a single Europa League game.
  • Leicester's Jonny Evans made his first appearance in major European competition since December 2013, for Manchester United against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Line-ups

Leicester

  • 1Schmeichel
  • 27CastagneSubstituted forJustinat 82'minutes
  • 3Fofana
  • 6EvansSubstituted forMorganat 82'minutes
  • 28Fuchs
  • 8TielemansBooked at 12minsSubstituted forChoudhuryat 71'minutes
  • 24Mendy
  • 26Praet
  • 10MaddisonSubstituted forÜnderat 65'minutes
  • 15Barnes
  • 14IheanachoSubstituted forPérezat 71'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Justin
  • 5Morgan
  • 11Albrighton
  • 12Ward
  • 17Pérez
  • 19Ünder
  • 20Choudhury
  • 35Jakupovic

Zorya Luhansk

  • 30Shevchenko
  • 45FavorovSubstituted forRufatiat 76'minutes
  • 15VernydubBooked at 77mins
  • 4Cvek
  • 10KhomchenovskyiSubstituted forCiganiksat 76'minutes
  • 21Ivanisenya
  • 27Nazaryna
  • 7KocherginSubstituted forGrynat 85'minutes
  • 80Yurchenko
  • 22KabaevBooked at 26minsSubstituted forPerovicat 65'minutes
  • 8LunevSubstituted forGladkiyat 65'minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Rufati
  • 9Perovic
  • 11Gladkiy
  • 20Abu Hanna
  • 23Vasilj
  • 50Gryn
  • 53Matsapura
  • 97Ciganiks
Referee:
Stéphanie Frappart

Match Stats

Home TeamLeicesterAway TeamZorya Luhansk
Possession
Home46%
Away54%
Shots
Home18
Away7
Shots on Target
Home5
Away2
Corners
Home6
Away2
Fouls
Home8
Away9

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Leicester City 3, Zorya Luhansk 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Leicester City 3, Zorya Luhansk 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Cengiz Ünder (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Dmytro Ivanisenya (Zorya Luhansk).

  5. Post update

    Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Yehor Nazaryna (Zorya Luhansk).

  7. Post update

    James Justin (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Mihailo Perovic (Zorya Luhansk).

  9. Post update

    Wesley Fofana (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Yehor Nazaryna (Zorya Luhansk) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Hamza Choudhury (Leicester City).

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Zorya Luhansk. Sergiy Gryn replaces Vladyslav Kochergin.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Zorya Luhansk. Conceded by Wesley Fofana.

  14. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Vladlen Yurchenko (Zorya Luhansk) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mihailo Perovic.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. James Justin replaces Timothy Castagne.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. Wes Morgan replaces Jonny Evans.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Mihailo Perovic (Zorya Luhansk).

  18. Post update

    Timothy Castagne (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  19. Booking

    Vitalii Vernydub (Zorya Luhansk) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Vitalii Vernydub (Zorya Luhansk).

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Comments

Join the conversation

18 comments

  • Rodgers has to be moved on if Leicester want to remain a top 8 side. He's been found out domestically and his European record is lamentable.

  • If he was a Utd player Barnes would be starting every game for England.

  • If I was a Scouser of just 1 day I'd keep it quiet let alone one for 50 odd years. Hardly something to be proud of, quite the contrary...

  • I thought Mendy and Barnes had great games. Not the best of opposition though.
    Nice to see Fuchs start too.

    The ref was brilliant. Didn't buy dives from either side and let the game flow. She got every decision pretty much spot on.

  • Premier League: Everton
    FA Cup: Arsenal
    League Cup: Man City
    Champions League: Bayern Munich
    Europa League: AC Milan

  • We’re just double checking this comment.

  • *Great to see in form Leicester with a comprehensive win
    * Great stuff from Spurs. Lovely to watch attacking power and depth. They look like Real Madrid.
    * Wish there was HYS on Scottish sides. Well done Rangers. Great job , Stevie.
    Celtic hopeless as usual.
    * Arsenal. I lack words. I stand against racism and against any discrimination against our muslim brothers in football. I stand with Ozil

  • What a breath of fresh air. A ref that let’s the game flow without feeling the need to blow the whistle every time there’s the slightest contact between players, and no VAR to ruin the game. It’s the future!

  • That should take the pressure off Rogers until they lose their next league match.

    If Leicester want to remain a top 8 club they need rid of him ASAP.

    • dill the dog replied:
      We’re just double checking this comment.

  • Pleased with the start but Zorya were pretty abysmal.
    Iheanacho and Barnes had good games and Fofana looks very assured for a 19 year old.

  • How is there only 3 comments in the 20 mins this post has been up? Do leicester have no fans? 🤣🤣
    #YNWA

    • 3Lionfan replied:
      Isn’t it time you were out stealing alloy wheels or devising your next benefit fraud. Leave the sensible comments to those who know about football.

  • Brendan Rodgers you beautiful human being 🤣🤣
    #YNWA

    • Vox Populi replied:
      Tonight was a fantastic demonstration of character and intensity.

  • We’re just double checking this comment.

  • We’re just double checking this comment.

  • Get on you Foxes!

As It Stands

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1CFR Cluj11002023
2Roma11002113
3Young Boys100112-10
4CSKA Sofia100102-20

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Molde11002113
2Arsenal11002113
3Dundalk100112-10
4Rapid Vienna100112-10

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1B Leverkusen11006243
2Hapoel Be'er Sheva11003123
3Slavia Prague100113-20
4Nice100126-40

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Benfica11004223
2Rangers11002023
3Lech Poznan100124-20
4Standard Liege100102-20

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Granada11002113
2Omonia Nicosia10101101
3PAOK Salonika10101101
4PSV Eindhoven100112-10

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1AZ Alkmaar11001013
2Real Sociedad11001013
3Napoli100101-10
4HNK Rijeka100101-10

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Leicester11003033
2Sporting Braga11003033
3Zorya Luhansk100103-30
4AEK Athens100103-30

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Lille11004133
2AC Milan11003123
3Celtic100113-20
4Sparta Prague100114-30

I

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Villarreal11005323
2Maccabi Tel-Aviv11001013
3FK Qarabag100101-10
4Sivasspor100135-20

J

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Tottenham11003033
2Royal Antwerp11002113
3Ludogorets100112-10
4LASK100103-30

K

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1CSKA Moscow10101101
2RZ Pellets WAC10101101
3Dinamo Zagreb10100001
4Feyenoord10100001

L

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Hoffenheim11002023
2Slovan Liberec11001013
3KAA Gent100101-10
4Red Star Belgrade100102-20
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