COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Leicester missed its chance to secure an early place in the last 16 of the Champions League after being held to a scoreless draw by FC Copenhagen on Wednesday.
While a win would have put the Premier League champions and Group G leaders through to the knockout stages, the next opportunity will come in its home game on Nov. 22 against Brugge, which lost 1-0 to Porto.
Leicester stayed top of the group with 10 points, followed by Porto with seven, Copenhagen on five and Brugge with zero after four straight defeats
Claudio Ranieri's side nearly returned home empty-handed as the best chance of the game fell to the home team in injury time, when Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had to dive to his right to claw away a downward header from Andreas Cornelius.
Copenhagen had the majority of possession early on with goalscoring attempts from William Kvist, Federico Santander and Cornelius.
Both sides had chances in a fast-pace second period. Goalkeeper Robin Olsen denied Leicester playmaker Riyad Mahrez and Copenhagen's Peter Ankersen saw his shot blocked minutes later.
"It's a good point against a good team away from home, so I'm satisfied," Ranieri said. "Copenhagen started well, which we were waiting for. We changed to 4-4-2 (in the) second half and were better."
Leicester came close to scoring when Jeff Schlupp's deflected shot dribbled into the hands of Olsen.
Leicester has not conceded a goal in four games and only needs a point from the last two matches to advance.
Copenhagen remained unbeaten in their last 31 home matches and faces second-placed Porto at home on Nov. 22.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
