By Matthew Burton and Josh Englishby
Despite their dip in Premier League form, Leicester City are taking the Champions League by storm, but who could they face in the last 16?
After defeating every team in their group, the Foxes are almost certain to qualify for the last 16, where they could meet some of football’s elite.
If City remain top of Group G they could come up against: French Champions PSG, German Champions and European giants Bayern Munich, 32-time Italian champions Juventus and of course last season’s Champions League Winners, Real Madrid.
Two-time European Cup winners, Benfica and a strong Bayer Leverkusen side, who have beaten fellow Premier League rivals Tottenham, could also await Vardy and co. in the next round.
Rob Tanner, Chief Football Writer for the Leicester Mercury, believes that Leicester City fans are split when asked who they would like to face in the next round of the competition. He said: “Some fans want to face a big team to get a memorable trip because they do not believe they can win it.”
However, Tanner added: “Others think we could win it, so would like a nice draw for the last 16. I would like a nice draw for the last 16 but a big side in the quarter finals, that would be the dream.”
This is made clear after the Leicestershire Press spoke to Foxes fans at the King Power Stadium, it seems as though many would like to face the likes of ‘Barcelona and Real Madrid’. Others however, ‘aren’t fussed’ as ‘any game is a challenge’.
This is understandable as only seven years ago, City were playing the likes of Tranmere Rovers and Cheltenham Town in the third tier of English Football.
Although Europe’s elite would be a much bigger obstacle on the road to the final, the fans have good reason to believe that they can overcome the biggest teams in Europe and win the Champions League.
Former Leicester City striker and supporter Gary Lineker took to twitter to say “Leicester could be the first team to win the Champions League and get relegated in the same season.” Whilst glorifying the Foxes’ chances in the Champions League, he sarcastically acknowledges the Champions’ dip in form in the Premier League this season.
