Summary

  • Youthful West Ham beaten - but already through as group winners

  • Result: Napoli 3-2 Leicester - Foxes drop into Conference League play-off

  • Legia miss 97th-minute penalty at Spartak - goal would have saved Leicester

  • Foxes had fought back from 2-0 down to level

  1. Postpublished at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Napoli v Leicester (17:45 GMT)

    After a run of nine wins from 10 home matches in the group stages of the Europa League between December 2010 and December 2015, Napoli have since won two of their last five such matches.

  2. Postpublished at 17:34 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Napoli v Leicester (17:45 GMT)

    Napoli came from 2-0 down to draw the meeting between these side at the King Power Stadium 2-2.

    That was their only previous meeting.

    Leicester have never faced Italian opposition away from home in Europe, while Napoli have won six of their 10 home matches against English sides in Europe.

  3. 'It's in our hands'published at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Napoli v Leicester (17:45 GMT)

    Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers: "It's one we're very comfortable on, knowing it's in our own hands.

    "If we win, we top the group, if we don't lose we qualify. The key is to be positive in our mindset and try to win the game. They are an excellent team but we played really well against them at home."

  4. Covid hits Foxes squadpublished at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Napoli v Leicester (17:45 GMT)

    Seven Leicester City players did not travel to Italy because of a combination of positive Covid-19 tests as well as some feeling "unwell".

    Three members of the backroom staff did not made the trip.

    "We have had some positive cases and some people who are not well so we haven't taken the risk," boss Brendan Rodgers said yesterday.

    "It's been the last few days really, you're starting to see a few more cases. It's about the health of our players and we have to respect the travel, coming into Italy."

    In the end, their teams looks strong enough, doesn't it?

    LeicesterImage source, .
  5. 'It has been a complicated build-up'published at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Napoli v Leicester (17:45 GMT)

    Leicester City

    Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers speaking to BT Sport: "We come here confident we can get the result that will take us through.

    "Naturally players not being available (because of Covid-19 and illness) disrupts us and it has been a complicated build-up but we have some top players coming back as well."

    On Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy: "Both players have attributes that are very similar in that they can run in behind, it is going to be about the combination of both players through the season.

    "Jamie starts but if we have to bring Patson on they can complement each other."

  6. Postpublished at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Lyon v Rangers (17:45 GMT), Celtic v Real Betis (20:00 GMT)

    Rangers and Celtic are both in Europa League action tonight, although nothing is on the line for either.

    Rangers are guaranteed a Europa League knockout round play-off, and Celtic will be in that round of the Europa Conference League.

    Follow live text of both games here.

  7. Postpublished at 17:21 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Atalanta v Villarreal (18:00 GMT)

    Champions League

    Atalanta's final Champions League group match against Villarreal is being played at 18:00 GMT.

    It was postponed yesterday at late notice - with the players all ready - because of heavy snow.

    The winner of the Group F encounter in northern Italy will progress to the last 16 behind Manchester United, who won the group.

    A draw will be enough for Villarreal.

    AtalantaImage source, .
  8. 'Undesirable situation' for Vitessepublished at 17:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Tottenham P-P Rennes, Vitesse v Mura (20:00 GMT)

    Vitesse have released a statement, external saying they are not happy with the situation tonight.

    If they beat Mura, or get a point, they will overtake Spurs into second place.

    But then Spurs will know exactly what they need to do if they play their game against Rennes at some stage.

    The statement read (via Google translate): "Vitesse has not (yet) received an official message from Uefa about the consequences of the cancellation in London for Vitesse vs NS Mura.

    "The European Football Association therefore seems to assume that the game in Arnhem will be played 'normally'.

    "If Tottenham Hotspur vs Stade Rennais FC is moved to a later moment, that will be a significant disadvantage for Vitesse from a sporting point of view, because both teams are highly dependent on each other's result.

    "That said, Vitesse obviously finds it extremely annoying that a corona outbreak has taken place at Tottenham Hotspur, because everyone's health is always number one."

    Spurs groupImage source, .
  9. Spurs game called offpublished at 17:16 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Spurs P-P Rennes

    Spurs were meant to be playing Rennes tonight in the Europa Conference League, with their qualification far from certain still.

    But it was called off after eight players and five members of staff tested positive for Covid-19 at the London club.

    Their match against Brighton on Sunday in the Premier League is believed to be under review.

    Rennes released a critical statement blaming Spurs for the "lack of fair play".

    It is not known when the game will be played.

    Media caption,

    'We are a bit scared' - Conte on Covid-19 outbreak in Tottenham squad

  10. West Ham are throughpublished at 17:14 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Genk v Rapid Vienna, West Ham v Dinamo Zagreb (both 20:00 GMT)

    West Ham have already booked their place in the Europa League last 16 as group winners.

    The only issue is who finishes second behind them and also who gets the Europa Conference League spot.

    Group HImage source, .
  11. What do Leicester need?published at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Legia Warsaw v Spartak Moscow, Napoli v Leicester (both 17:45 GMT)

    All four teams can still qualify in Leicester's group. They all know a win would take them through.

    The Foxes will finish first if they win, or if both games are drawn.

    The teams who finish second have to play an extra knockout round to teams who win their group... potentially against Barcelona.

    Brendan Rodgers' side are guaranteed third place at least, which is a Europa Conference League knockout round play-off spot.

    LeicesterImage source, .
  12. Team news - Vardy starts for Leicesterpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    Napoli v Leicester (17:45 GMT)

    Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers makes three changes to the side that started their 2-1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa last Sunday.

    Jamie Vardy, Youri Tielemans and Ryan Bertrand all start as Ademola Lookman misses out and Patson Daka and Luke Thomas drop to the bench.

    Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Castagne, Evans, Soyuncu, Bertrand, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy.

    Subs: Ward, Stolarczyk, Nelson, Thomas, Albrighton, Choudhury, Ewing, McAteer, Soumare, Daka.

    Leicester

    Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti makes three changes to the side that began their 3-2 defeat in Serie A to Atalanta last weekend.

    Diego Demme, Andrea Petagna and Adam Ounas all start as Dries Mertens and Kevin Malcuit drop to the bench and Stanislav Lobotka misses out through injury.

    He joins the likes of Victor Osimhen, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kalidou Koulibaly, Fabian Ruiz and captain Lorenzo Insigne on the sidelines.

    Napoli XI: Meret, Demme, Jesus, Rui, Elmas, Lozano, Rrahmani, Zielinski, Di Lorenzo, Ounas, Petagna.

    Subs: Ospina, Boffelli, Malcuit, Mertens, Politano, Manolas, Costanzo, Vergara.

  13. Welcome to more footballpublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2021

    What's the craic tonight?

    Leicester could go through to the Europa League last 16, or the knockout round play-off, or drop down to the Europa Conference League.

    Group winners West Ham are guaranteed a last 16 place.

    Spurs were meant to be playing in the Conference League tonight but now they're not, and the other teams in their group aren't happy.

    Oh and there's a Champions League game too.

    Ready?