Despite their disappointment at narrowly missing out on the continent’s top competition for a second successive season, Leicester ended last season fifth in the Premier League – enough to earn them direct entry into the Europa League’s group stage.
While the FA Cup winners exited last term’s tournament in the last 32 – losing 2-0 on aggregate to Slavia Prague – it was still their best-ever result in either the UEFA Cup or Europa League.
To surpass that this autumn will be no mean feat, though, as after the Foxes get their Group C challenge under way at the King Power Stadium this week, they will face Polish champions Legia Warsaw next and then meet Spartak Moscow on October 10th.
In the run-up to their first-ever encounter with Italian opponents in UEFA competition, the side managed by Brendan Rodgers have experienced an up-and-down start to the new league season, as they have both won and lost twice so far and sit ninth in the early-season table.
Though Leicester took care of newly-promoted Norwich City just before the international break, they were edged out by Bernardo Silva’s strike for Manchester City in an entertaining game at the weekend, as former City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel did well to prevent a greater margin of defeat.
The great Dane may be called upon again in midweek, as Rodgers and company now come up against one of the most consistent attacking forces on the continent.
Goals from Matteo Politano and star centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly gave Napoli a precious 2-1 win over loathed rivals Juventus at the weekend, and continued their run of fine form under new manager Luciano Spalletti.
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Koulibaly’s 85th-minute strike sealed a comeback win for the Azzurri, and helped them into third in the early Serie A standings – giving them a major boost before their return to the Europa League, after an underwhelming exit last term.
Much like Leicester, the Partenopei topped their group but were eliminated in the last 32 and, incidentally, both clubs then went on to finish fifth in their domestic leagues after missing out on Champions League qualification on the final day.
Knocked out by European debutants Granada last spring, an aggregate result which perhaps marked the beginning of the end for their colourful former coach Gennaro Gattuso, the Neapolitan giants are intent on going far further this time around – in keeping with their proud European history
