Foxes Make It Two Wins From Two In The Premier League
On the morning of the match, news of Turkey international winger Cengiz Ünder’s loan move to King Power Stadium was confirmed, drawing messages of elation from the Blue Army across social media.
Brendan Rodgers, who later earned his 100th Premier League win as a manager, fielded an unchanged starting XI for the clash with the Clarets following a convincing 3-0 Premier League victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on the opening day.
An early chance for ex-City striker Chris Wood came on three minutes, but after sprinting clear, a well-timed tackle from Wilfred Ndidi – again operating at centre-back – halted the run of the New Zealand international.
However, Wood took his next opportunity on 10 minutes, controlling a deep ball with his chest before firing into the back of the net to open the scoring – a goal eventually confirmed by VAR following appeals for handball in the build-up by the hosts.
It didn’t take long for the Foxes to respond, though, as a defence-splitting pass into Jamie Vardy saw the 2019/20 Golden Boot winner hold it up before Timothy Castagne found Academy graduate Harvey Barnes, who slotted into the bottom corner for 1-1.
Rodgers’ side continued to threaten, with Barnes curling over the bar before Ayoze Pérez had a strike blocked, while Kasper Schmeichel was on hand on the half-hour mark to hold onto a well-struck half-volley from Robbie Brady.
More brilliant play from City down the left flank saw Barnes open up his body before drawing an excellent one-handed save from Nick Pope, who did well to keep the 22-year-old Burnley-born wideman at bay.
Youri Tielemans’ searching pass then carved out a good chance for Çağlar Söyüncü, who couldn’t quite get a clean connection on the ball as his header deflected wide for a corner with 10 minutes of the first half to play.
On 39 minutes, only a well-timed challenge from Burnley defender Phil Bardsley prevented Barnes from making it 2-1 after Dennis Praet played a lovely, low ball across the face of goal to the back post.
A final opportunity of the first period fell to Tielemans, but his drive from the edge of the area went straight into the arms of Pope in the Clarets goal.
City picked up where they left off, and after some sturdy defending from Söyüncü on several occasions, they turned it around on 50 minutes as Castagne’s low cross was turned into the back of his own net by substitute Erik Pieters.
A string of Barnes efforts followed, as Leicester maintained their dominance after taking the lead, while Wood, at the other end, couldn’t connect with Jay Rodriguez’s pass and Schmeichel produced a routine save.
Castagne’s threat from right-back grew throughout the game, and on the hour mark, it was countryman Praet who this time lifted a pass from the No.27 over the bar from around 20 yards out.
City’s pressure finally told on 61 minutes, when their other full-back, James Justin, rounded off a neat move. A superb piece of play from Praet saw him slip in Pérez, and the Spaniard's pass into the box was slotted in by Justin for his first Premier League goal for the Football Club.
Burnley rallied and on 73 minutes pulled one back for Sean Dyche’s men, with defender Jimmy Dunne heading home at the back post on his Premier League debut to reduce the visiting side’s deficit to just one goal.
Schmeichel was called into action four minutes later as Pieters connected well with a cross from the left flank, but couldn’t beat the Denmark international stopper, who collected the header on his line.
But City’s forward play paid dividends again as all-action midfielder Praet measured up an effort from distance before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the right-hand corner of the net to wrap up the triumph – not before Wood struck the upright in the closing stages.
Major moment
Having fallen a goal behind on Filbert Way, City required a swift response and Academy graduate Harvey Barnes answered that call on 20 minutes.
The winger’s first goal of the season came as a result of his own hard work as he first played a pass into Jamie Vardy, and then caught up with the play before converting Timothy Castagne’s pass.
An own goal by Erik Pieters five minutes after the interval, a maiden Premier League effort from James Justin and a rocket from Dennis Praet then ultimately secured all three points for City.
Who impressed?
Speaking on LCFC Radio’s Matchday Live, Gerry Taggart said: “I’ve given it to one of the Belgian lads. He’s been excellent this evening and he scored a rocket of a goal and that’s Dennis Praet. His all-round game was excellent tonight. The last two games I've watched him in, he's been great."
Where do we stand?
The Foxes, albeit after two fixtures, jump to the top of the Premier League standings. They sit level on points with Everton, Arsenal, Liverpool and Crystal Palace, but have a superior goal difference.
Coming up…
City’s next fixture sees them face Arsenal in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening at King Power Stadium (7:45pm kick-off), before a Premier League encounter with Manchester City at Etihad Stadium follows four days later (4:30pm kick-off).
All times BST.