City's European Squad Fly Out To Portugal For Braga Encounter
Bound for the historic municipality of Braga in Minho Province, the birthplace of former popes and Portuguese luminaries, the Foxes departed England in jovial spirits, buoyed by three consecutive wins in Europe, including a 4-0 home success over Os Arcebispos earlier this month.
After equalling and then bettering their record for largest European wins so far in 2020/21, Brendan Rodgers’ men head to northern Portugal knowing a win could seal qualification with two games – away at Zorya Luhansk and at home against AEK Athens – still to play.
City’s designated Europa League squad boarded the plane amid light drizzle in Leicestershire, expecting to be greeted by similar conditions, but warmer temperatures, upon their arrival on the second stop of the Club’s European tour.
James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Kelechi Iheanacho, Jamie Vardy, Hamza Choudhury and Dennis Praet – the six Foxes to find the net for Leicester so far in Group G – were all among the travelling party.
Initially landing in Porto, a short coach ride across to Braga awaits before some downtime and an opportunity to acclimatise to their new surroundings.
After settling in, albeit briefly, at their headquarters, Rodgers and Maddison are then scheduled to address the world’s media from Estádio Municipal de Braga.
A preparatory training session will follow on Wednesday evening at a ground also called A Pedreira, or ‘The Quarry’, after it was carved into the side of a mountain for its 2004 opening.
Don't forget, the Blue Army can access live and free coverage, in the company of Matt Elliott, Tony Cottee and Gerry Taggart, from 4:55pm on Thursday evening, ahead of kick-off an hour later.