Charting Leicester City's 2021/22 European Adventure

After winning the Emirates FA Cup and finishing fifth in the Premier League the year earlier, City qualified for the UEFA Europa League for a second successive season in 2021/22 - being drawn alongside Napoli, Legia Warsaw and Spartak Moscow in Group C.

With fans now back in stadia across the continent, Leicester were backed by a full house in their opening fixture as Italian giants Napoli visited the East Midlands. Ayoze Pérez's first-half strike put City ahead, but a maiden goal for the Club by Patson Daka in the second half was then ruled out by VAR.

Academy graduate Harvey Barnes did put the Foxes two up moments later. However, a late brace from Victor Osimhen would secure a point for the visitors, before Wilfred Ndidi's stoppage-time red card. A 1-0 defeat by Legia in Poland, courtesy of Mahir Emreli's first-half strike, was to follow.

City needed points and they came in remarkable fashion in Moscow.

After goals from Aleksandr Sobolev and Jordan Larsson for Spartak Moscow, Daka got one back just before the break. The Zambia international would go on to become the first Leicester City player to score four goals in a single game since Derek Hines in a 6-3 victory over Aston Villa in November 1958.

Sobolev got another back for the home side, but a memorable trip to Russia would end in a 4-3 success.

Back in Leicester, for the return fixture against Spartak, Victor Moses' header gave the away side a surprise lead, but Daniel Amartey was at least able to rescue a point for City. Jamie Vardy, however, missed a chance from the penalty spot to secure all three.

On 25 November, goals from Daka, James Maddison and Ndidi helped Brendan Rodgers' men register a 3-1 victory over Legia on Filbert Way, sending the Foxes top of Group C with one game to play. Anything could happen on matchday six, though, with all four teams still in with a shot at qualification.

Leicester headed to Naples knowing a draw would be enough to reach at least the play-off rounds. A win, on the other hand, would send them through to the Round of 16. Adam Ounas and Elif Elmas, though, saw Napoli race into an early two-goal lead at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Strikes from Jonny Evans and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - netting for the first time for the Club - did restore parity, but another Elmas effort after the restart would eventually condemn City to defeat. Leicester finished third in Group C and would compete in the UEFA Europa League Conference League in 2022. 

The Foxes were pitted against Danish side Randers FC in the knockout round play-offs. A 4-1 success over Thomas Thomasberg's side on Filbert Way - courtesy of goals from Ndidi, Barnes, Daka and Dewsbury-Hall - set City up nicely for the second leg in Denmark.

Another big scoreline, 3-1, came Leicester's way at Randers Stadium, with Barnes netting early before a stunning Maddison brace.

High-flying French Ligue 1 outfit Rennes were next up for Rodgers' men in the last-16. City had the advantage during a tight first leg tie in Leicester, thanks to a magnificent strike from Marc Albrighton, while Kelechi Iheanacho's 93rd-minute effort would prove vital. 

An intense atmosphere greeted the Foxes in Brittany a week later. Benjamin Bourigeaud put the home side ahead early on, but the visitors remained strong at Roazhon Park, as Wesley Fofana marked his first start since returning from a long-term fractured fibula injury with a headed equaliser.

That meant not even Flavien Tait's late goal for the home side would be enough to prevent City returning to the United Kingdom with a 3-2 aggregate win. The stature of opponent was increasing as the Club progressed through the stages and Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven would be next in the quarter-finals.

Leicester were once again at home first up, drawing 0-0 in front of a full house, meaning a big performance was needed in Eindhoven. An early storm came their way at Philips Stadion and City were behind after 27 minutes as Eran Zahavi beat Kasper Schmeichel from a tight angle.

The Foxes' growing European experience told in the end, though, with Maddison and then Ricardo Pereira - in the 88th minute - completing a brilliant comeback and securing a first-ever semi-final appearance. José Mourinho's AS Roma stood in the way of Leicester reaching a major European final.

Once again, the first leg was on Filbert Way, but despite City's dominance, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma ahead. The Foxes pressed and Gianluca Mancini's own goal made it 1-1. In Rome, however, Tammy Abraham's header delighted a raucous Stadio Olimpico crowd and ended the dream for the Blue Army.

Across the Europa League and the Europa Conference League, City had contested 14 matches in European competition throughout 2021/22. The wait goes on for a maiden fine and the shot at glory on the continental stage.