Champions League Round-Up: Leicester Make it 3 From 3, Spurs Held in Germany and Real Madrid Win Big
Leicester City kept the dream of playing knockout Champions League football alive on Wednesday night after Riyad Mahrez's first-half strike against Copenhagen ensured Claudio Ranieri's Foxes sit on a maximum nine points from three games.
After wins against Club Brugge and Porto, the Premier League champions have now put themselves in a commanding position halfway through the group campaign. Porto and Brugge drew 1-1, meaning Leicester are now five points clear of the Danish side in Group A.
While Leicester maintained their perfect European record, there was no such ecstasy for Tottenham as they drew 0-0 with Bayer Leverkusen as the BayArena. Mauricio Pochettino's men have been in excellent form in the Premier League, but they found themselves up against it against a high-pressing, energetic Leverkusen.
Hugo Lloris was in excellent form, showing excellent reflexes to stop Javier Hernandez from scoring when the Mexican striker had the goal at his mercy from four yards. Danny Rose also brilliantly cleared off the line from Stefan Kiessling on a night when Spurs withstood intense pressure to hold on admirably for what might prove to be a crucial point.
L'arrêt de Lloris ? pic.twitter.com/nY3vsTwGgg
In the group's other game, a late goal from Bernardo Silva cancelled out Lacina Traore's opener as CSKA Moscow and Monaco played out a 1-1 draw in Russia. Monaco are top on five points, Monaco have four, while Bayer have amassed three and CSKA two, leaving proceedings wide open with three games still to play.
There were no surprises in Group F as Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund both took a huge step towards qualification with comfortable victories. Madrid thumped Legia Warsaw 5-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to goals from Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez, Alvaro Morata and an own goal from Tomasz Jodlowiec, spelling an immensely satisfying night for Zinedine Zidane's holders.
Dortmund, meanwhile, moved alongside the Spaniards with a 2-1 win away to Sporting CP, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Julian Weigl getting the goals for Thomas Tuchel's side. And although Bruno Cesar led the fightback from the Portuguese side, Dortmund held on for a well-earned three points.
Finally, in Group H, Sevilla and Juventus remain neck and neck now in Group H after the reigning Europa League champions clinched a 1-0 win away to Dinamo Zagreb thanks to a goal from on-loan playmaker Samir Nasri.
Juventus left it late in Lyon as Juan Cuadrado struck in the 76th minute to ensure the Serie A champions keep pace with their rivals on seven points.
Results:
Group E
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Spurs
CSKA Moscow 1-1 Monaco
Group F
Real Madrid 5-1 Legia Warsaw
Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
Group G
Club Brugge 1-1 Porto
Leicester 1-0 Copenhagen
Group H
Dinamo Zagreb 0-1 Sevilla
Lyon 0-1 Juventus
Leicester in the Champions League:
Games: 3
Wins: 3
Goals: 5
Clean Sheets: 3
Incredible start ? pic.twitter.com/gn3km8XuBu
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