![Prost International [PINT]](https://prostinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PINTtFontLogoRoboto1536x78.jpg)
A game of two completely different halves saw the two sides go head-to-head in a fantastic battle which ended in a goalless draw at the Sinobo Stadium.
The match started at a very high pace and it was the Foxes that had the first chance of the encounter within 60 seconds.
Harvey Barnes played the ball into Marc Albrighton’s feet with the winger’s shot wide of the target but it definitely showed what the East Midlands side have come to the Czech Republic to do.
A few seconds later, Slavia Praha had a chance of their own. Alexander Bah gained the ball on the edge of the area and fired a shot at goal with his effort blocked by the visitor’s defence, but it went out for the first corner of the match.
From that resulting corner, the hosts had a fantastic chance to open the scoring. As the cross came in, Ondřej Kúdela waited at the back post and when he eventually got the ball he was unable to direct his shot at goal with the defender putting his head in his hands.
Leicester were back on the front foot again with James Maddison allowed time and space on the edge of the area. The midfielder let fly but saw his effort go over the bar.
Barnes surged forward an into the Praha penalty area with the winger looking for a chance to shoot. He was able to release a shot as he tried to nutmeg Ondřej Kolář, but the goalkeeper did well to stop the effort from rolling through his legs and into the back of the net.
The Leicester winger had another fantastic chance minutes later. Maddison’s free-kick was cleared away only as far as the 23-year-old but he fired his shot wide.
Nicolae Stanciu delivered a ball to the back post with Bah completely free to head the ball, but the defender dragged his effort wide.
At the end of the first-half, Barnes laid the ball off to Youri Tielemans with the Belgian’s again off target to conclude the opening 45 minutes.
The hosts flipped the game on its head in the second period and came out a completely changed side. Mounting pressure onto the Foxes, Stanciu had a free-kick opportunity but his effort was easily claimed by Kasper Schmeichel.
Praha’s number seven was at it again a few minutes later. He moved the ball past Wilfred Ndidi and fired a goalbound at Schmeichel’s goal, the Danish international reacting well to tip the ball over the bar.
The Czech Republic champions continued to use their home advantage to affect but were unable to direct any shots at goal with the match only seeing four shots on target.
In the dying embers of the match, Kelechi Iheanacho had a few fantastic chances to edge his side into the lead. His first chance came after Hamza Choudhury crossed the ball into the box, but the Nigerian was unable to connect cleanily with the ball.
The final chance came with Harvey Barnes whipping the ball in, but the cross was slightly overhit with the forward unable to get to the ball in time.
No vital away goal was found for the Foxes as the tie remains perfectly balanced ahead of the second leg.
The two sides meet next Thursday at the King Power with a place in the round of 16 of the Europa League still to play for.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1392″ heading=”UEFA Europa League” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”660″ heading=”Leicester City” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
