After finishing top of their group stage and only losing one game, Leicester City look a menacing side in the fight to win the  UEFA Europa League. 

The Foxes began their European journey on Thursday, October 22nd. Leicester have flourished being back in Europe and look to try and go all the way to win a European cup for the first time.

  • Leicester's record in big games

Brendan Rodgers' men have an incredible record this season against the so called ‘big six’ sides,  having the best record in the league against them. 

Leicester have been able to pick up an astonishing 16 points out of a possible 21 against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool (played twice). The Foxes have a 2.29 points per game percentage against the ‘big six’ this season. 

These statistics show that Leicester are able to turn up for big events and matches that prove worthy. This is key for the Europa League as in the later stages of the competition, there will be some huge games but if the Foxes are able to maintain that fighting spirit in crucial games then you can’t write them off winning this year’s competition. 

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  • European experience within the side

Throughout the Leicester side, there is experience in the team giving the Foxes an advantage going into the knockout stages of the European competition. A plus for the Blues is having the experience of European football which could be pivotal in Leicester’s search to win this year’s Europa League. 

From the 15/16 title winning side remain key players such as Jamie Vardy, Marc Albrighton, Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan to name a few. They all played a part in Leicester’s triumph in the UEFA Champions League taking them into the quarter-finals of the competition. 

Since then other player from various countries have been imported and brought into the side such as Youri Tielemans, Dennis Praet, Timothy Castagne, Ricardo Pereira, Wilfred Ndidi and others. They’ve all taken part in European football elsewhere and with Leicester, with the Foxes now performing in the Europa League they could be a massive boost. 

Although James Maddison and Harvey Barnes haven’t played much, they will be threatening to the oppositions with the two English youngster’s being in a good vein of form.

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  • Leicester’s desire 

Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City side seem hungry to go far and progress further in the Europa League as they look to make a mark in the club’s history. 

After falling short of a Champions League place last season, it seems to have made the players more passionate and hungry to go and be successful. That’s exactly what they’ll need to win the Europa League. 

James Maddison has stated that it’s ‘nights like this you dream about’ showing that the former Norwich City player is enjoying the experience of playing midweek and doesn't want the dream to end any time soon. 

Marc Albrighton,another Foxes player showing the desire and passion of wanting to progress into the final stages of the European competition has also said ‘Europa League can be special for us’.

With this fighting mentality from the Leicester players, will the Foxes go all the way in the Europa League?