The Foxes' Excellent 2020/21 Campaign So Far
When 13 September came around and Leicester City were embarking on another brand new, albeit later than usual, campaign in the top division, no one knew quite what to expect.
Football and the Premier League was back, again, but after the shortened summer break, with an intense schedule on the horizon and still no supporters inside King Power Stadium, or any other top flight stadia, how would the players respond?
For Brendan Rodgers' side, things got off to the perfect start. A trip to newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion was the first test of the season and the Foxes passed it with flying colours.
You're always looking for new signings to make an impact and Belgian full-back Timothy Castagne, signed from Serie A side Atalanta, did just that. A debut goal for the 25-year-old opened the scoring and two from talismanic forward Jamie Vardy capped off a successful afternoon in the West Midlands.
Leicester's momentum continued at home to Burnley, despite falling behind early on. Goals from Harvey Barnes, James Justin - his first in the Premier League - and Dennis Praet, sent City on their way to a 4-2 victory on Filbert Way, aided by an Erik Pieters own goal.
Better was still to come as the Foxes travelled to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City, buoyed by recent league results. What followed will be remembered as one of the great away performances from a Leicester City side.
Conceding the first goal - scored by former Fox Riyad Mahrez after just four minutes - did not knock City's desire to get on the ball and cause problems for the hosts. Vardy was at his relentless best, converting two spot-kicks and a goal from open play to complete a 21-minute hat-trick either side of the break.
James Maddison then came off the bench to net a sublime, curling effort, chosen as Budweiser Goal of the Month for September. Youri Tielemans' late penalty finished off the rout and a 5-2 scoreline against the three-time Premier League champions.
Two home defeats to Aston Villa and West Ham United were soon forgotten about as European football arrived back in town for the first time since 2016/17.
And the Club's first foray into the UEFA Europa League also kicked off in promising fashion. Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk were dispatched by Maddison, Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho, followed up by a hard fought 2-1 away victory in Athens a week later.
Greek Super League side AEK gave City a tough game, but Vardy and Hamza Choudhury did the damage in the first half and those two goals were enough to send City top of the group table.
They remained there after a comprehensive 4-0 drubbing of SC Braga, the Club's biggest-ever European win, as Iheanacho continued his goalscoring exploits in the competition with a brace, complimented by strikes from Praet and Maddison.
Back in the league, it was full steam ahead for City, who once again showed their credentials on the road, beating Arsenal 1-0 at Emirates Stadium to record a first away victory over the Gunners in 47 years. Vardy was the man making the headlines, expertly found by loan signing Cengiz Ünder to fire the Foxes up to fourth in the table.
City's perfect away record of four straight wins in 2020/21, and five in all competitions, continued at Elland Road as they swept aside an energetic Leeds United. Barnes, Vardy and a Tielemans double made the difference against Marcelo Bielsa's men.
And Leicester made it six wins in a row with a 1-0 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers at King Power Stadium. It was a tale of two penalties on Filbert Way as Vardy scored and then missed a spot-kick, though City were still able to wrap up the three points, with 19-year-old centre-back Wesley Fofana catching the eye as he helped ensure another clean sheet.
Competing on two fronts is never easy, but Leicester showed little sign of fatigue as progression into the knockout stages of the Europa League was secured in the most dramatic of fashion - and with two group games to spare.
Within the picturesque setting of Braga's impressive Estádio Municipal de Braga, City looked set to be made to wait for confirmation of a place in the last 32 of the competition when, despite Barnes and Luke Thomas twice levelling the scores, Fransergio netted what looked to be the winner in the final minute of normal time.
However, substitutes Maddison and Vardy combined to great effect in stoppage time, with the latter getting on the end of Marc Albrighton's cross to snatch a late and crucial draw from their trip to Portugal.
Although the Premier League run had been ended at Anfield and subsequently defeats by Fulham and Zorya Luhansk followed, City responded to that minor blip in stunning style.
Ayoze Pérez's first goal of the season had the visitors ahead at Bramall Lane, though after Oli McBurnie had equalised for Sheffield United, the game looked to be heading for a draw. Up stepped who else but Vardy, played in by creator-in-chief Maddison, to score a 90th minute winner and start another successful run of three consecutive victories.
AEK Athens were beaten for a second time, this time on home soil, to confirm Leicester's position at the top of Group G and ensure they would be seeded in the last 32 draw. Barnes and Ünder - who netted a rocket in his first goal for the Club - made the all important breakthroughs early on to ensure it would be a comfortable European night for Rodgers' men.
Up next were Brighton & Hove Albion and a scintillating first-half performance from Leicester left the Seagulls going back to the South Coast empty handed. Maddison scored twice, including a superb left-footed strike, either side of Vardy's 10th league goal of the season.
City were beaten at home by in-form Everton, 2-0, but responded by defeating José Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur by the same scoreline in another impressive display at the stunning Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Vardy's penalty saw City go in at the break with a lead, which was extended via Toby Alderweireld's own goal in the second half, and that's how it stayed to move the Foxes onto 27 points after 14 games.
Sitting second in the Premier League table ahead of another busy run of fixtures over the festive period, moving into a magnificent new training ground in Seagrave and gearing up for a two-legged Europa League knockout tie with SK Slavia Prague, there is plenty for City to look forward to in 2021.