By Ben Sanderson
The clubs placed 3rd and 4th in the Premier League remain the same number of points apart from each other after the second meeting between Leicester and Chelsea ended in a draw, just like the first, but with one more goal per team.
Antonio Ruediger scored two headers in his 100th game for Chelsea, opening the scoring with his first, a simple effort from a corner which Foxes ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel narrowly failed to reach.
His second header came after Leicester’s goals, scoring from the edge of the penalty area into the left-hand side of the goal.
Earlier, Harvey Barnes had equalised gracefully, dispatching a beautiful chipped goal into the right-hand bottom corner after cutting inside Chelsea’s area.
Ben Chilwell did put Leicester into the lead, meeting Youri Tielemans’ cross at the left-hand side of the penalty area and scoring at the near post with a high shot.
Ruediger, however, ensured honours were even after the affair.
Photo courtesy of Matt Teagle: The teams enter the pitchBarnes had a golden opportunity to give Leicester the win after Jamie Vardy played a curling pass which left him one-on-one with Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero but his shot went just wide.
Caballero, starting in place of out-of-form Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has the worst save percentage of any Premier League first-choice ‘keeper, made an important save in the first-half, keeping out a Vardy shot from outside the six-yard box, though it was more through fortune than brilliance as the shot hit his shin as he went down to block Vardy’s low shot.
A Pedro chipped shot which was tipped over the bar, a Chilwell shot which went over as well and a Hamza Choudhury header which went wide demonstrated the best of the first-half.
Leicester did have a penalty appeal right at the death after Ruediger seemed to intentionally use his hands to block a Barnes cross, but this was dubiously waved away as both sides saw out the match for a point.
Photo courtesy of Matt Teagle: The teams in actionThe result means Leicester remain third and eight points clear of nearest rivals Chelsea, losing out on the chance to go equal on points with Manchester City.
Chelsea remain fourth and stretch their lead over Tottenham, Manchester United and Wolves to seven points, the latter sides meeting this weekend.
Positives the Foxes can take are that Barnes, who scored for the third game in a row, remains in stupendous form, while Vardy looks threatening again after returning from injury.
