Leicester City have snatched a point against Middlesbrough as an injury-time Islam Slimani penalty gave the Foxes a 2-2 draw in Saturday's Premier League clash at the King Power Stadium.
Alvaro Negredo ended a goal drought which stretched back to the opening day of the season when he put Boro ahead in the 13th minute, but Riyad Mahrez equalised from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark after Calum Chambers was judged to have handled in the box.
The on-loan Valencia striker looked to have given Aitor Karanka's side all three points in the second half when he connected with a long ball over the top and clinically dispatched a low shot past Foxes goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
However, Slimani converted from the spot in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Wes Morgan was brought down in the Boro box by Marten De Roon.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action in the East Midlands.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Leicester City and Middlesbrough!
With their place in the Champions League knockout stage secured, the Foxes need to turn around their poor domestic form to put to bed any more questions about relegation - they currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, just two points off the drop zone.
In their way today at the King Power Stadium stand newly promoted Middlesbrough, who have themselves found themselves in a position which is far from healthy. Aitor Karanka's charges sit a place and a point behind Leicester in 15th, so they will be eager to get something from this weekend's game.
The team news from both teams have emerged, so without further ado, here are the line-ups!
LEICESTER STARTING XI: Zieler, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, King, Amartey, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy
MIDDLESBROUGH STARTING XI: Valdes, Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio, Clayton, De Roon, Forshaw, Traore, Ramirez, Negredo
LEICESTER SUBS: Hernandez, Musa, James, Hamer, Schlupp, Slimani, Gray
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Guzan, Nsue, Bernardo, Leadbitter, Downing, Fischer, Stuani
Leicester make one change from the side which beat Club Brugge 2-1 in the Champions League, with Claudio Ranieri bringing Daniel Amartey into midfield for Danny Drinkwater, who begins a three-game ban after accepting a FA charge of violent conduct for elbowing Watford's Valon Behrami.
Boro boss Aitor Karanka, meanwhile, names an unchanged team from the side which lost 1-0 to Chelsea last time out, which means that striker Alvaro Negredo starts in attack despite not scoring in 10 starts.
Leicester have opted for a 4-4-2 formation, with Ron-Robert Zieler deputising in goal for the injured Kasper Schmeichel, a back four of Danny Simpson, Robert Huth, captain Wes Morgan and Christian Fuchs, a midfield four of Marc Albrighton, Daniel Amartey, Andy King and Riyad Mahrez on the wing, and a front two of Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki.
As for Boro, they're in a 4-2-3-1 line-up. Victor Valdes in between the sticks, a back four of Antonio Barragan, Calum Chambers, Ben Gibson and Fabio, a defensive midfield two of Adam Forshaw and Adam Clayton, then Marten de Roon, Gaston Ramirez and Adama Traore in front, and Negredo as the lone striker.
After last season's miracles, Leicester have found themselves experiencing a Jekyll-and-Hyde campaign this time round. Struggling in the league, but on fire in Europe. Languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, but through to the last 16 of the Champions League - as group winners, no less - with a game to spare.
Leicester fans will now be hoping that, with qualification to the knockouts secured, the Foxes can now put more resources into climbing up the table. Another tilt at the title has been all but written off by the current champions, hence the focus on Europe, but nonetheless they will not want to stress about a relegation battle.
This is something that has been acknowledged by Ranieri, who told reporters on Tuesday night: "Maybe we have been more focused in the Champions League. Now the group is won, it's important to come back in the Premier League."
As opponents go for a team to try and kickstart a season, Boro, with all due respect, will not be among the most threatening in the division. They have only earned one win and seven points in their last 10 matches, and they're playing away from home.
However, the North-East outfit have drawn three successive away matches, with their only defeat in the last 10 league trips coming at Everton in September.
Boro are the division's joint-lowest scorers alongside Hull City, with 10 goals apiece, but they also have the sixth-best defensive record. So they could well make things tricky for the Foxes.
Karanka has addressed criticism of Negredo, who has failed to score in 10 straight starts: "When a striker is not scoring goals he is always going to have his critics, just like when a team is not winning a manager is going to have his critics. Everybody has to understand we are not a top team going five or 10 times in the opponents' box - we have to wait for our chances. Leicester are not in a good moment so we will have to arrive more times in the opponents' box and he is going to score goals for sure in the way that he is working."
Negredo's form in front of goal mirrors that of Leicester counterpart Jamie Vardy, who has not scored in 14 games for the Foxes, and Ranieri has revealed that he has not been scoring in training during this goal drought either.
HEAD TO HEAD: Leicester haven't beaten Middlesbrough in the Premier League since a 3-0 victory in November 2000, drawing two and losing three since. However, Middlesbrough are without a win in their last 12 league clashes with Leicester - their longest current winless streak against any team.
PREDICTION: With less than 10 minutes to go until kickoff, it's time for me to predict today's scoreline at the King Power. Everything points towards a goalless draw, doesn't it? But that would be too easy, so I'll go for a 2-0 win for Leicester, with Vardy ending his drought and Mahrez also grabbing a goal.
Our captain will be wearing this armband today as #Boro support the @stonewalluk rainbow campaign. #UTB pic.twitter.com/Nq6vleYQvF — Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) 26 November 2016
Wes Morgan and Ben Gibson lead their respective sides out at the King Power.
KICKOFF! Middlesbrough get the game underway, with each side in their traditional team colours.
Gibson manages to outmuscle Okazaki away in the Boro box as he attempts to clear a loose ball - some eyebrows raised at the strength of the tackle.
De Roon manages to whip the ball into the penalty area, but one of the Foxes defenders is alert and gets it away for a corner, which Ramirez takes and comes to nothing.
It's been quiet so far from both sides as they feel their way into the match, although Leicester look nervy at the back as Negredo nearly pounces on King's backpass to Zieler.
Simpson goes on a run down the right flank and tries to cross for Vardy, but his effort eventually curls wide of the post.
CHANCE! Boro come very close as Traore mazes past Fuchs and Vardy into the box and forces a save from Zieler, which bounces into the path of De Roon on the edge of the area, but the Dutchman's ferocious shot goes inches wide of the far post.
Amartey receives the ball at the top of the box and shapes to shoot, but his effort is blocked.
GOAL! LEICESTER 0-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (ALVARO NEGREDO)
In the battle of the misfiring strikers, it is Alvaro Negredo who gets one over on Jamie Vardy! The Spaniard plays the ball wide to Ramirez before making a run into the box - Ramirez gets the ball out of his feet before sending a low cross into the path of Negredo, who sweeps the ball in from 12 yards out! First blood to Boro and Leicester are rattled!
More nerves clearly on show in the Leicester back line as Simpson passes back to Zieler, who is forced to hack clear, and the goalkeeper ends up having words with his defenders.
Free kick for the Foxes, which Albrighton takes, but Barragan is there to head it away before Albrighton again delivers a cross which evades Huth and ends in Valdes's hands.
Boro are dominating possession and playing the ball around very comfortably around the back, while Leicester look short on energy and drive.
977 – Alvaro Negredo's strike against Leicester has ended a run of 977 minutes without a Premier League goal for Middlesbrough. Opener. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 26 November 2016
Mahrez is stopped in his tracks by Ramirez down the right wing, with the ref awarding the Foxes a free kick in a dangerous area. Albrighton takes and finds Amartey, but his subsequent shot is blocked and cleared.
BOOKING: As Middlesbrough attempt to break, Albrighton clatters into Ramirez and earns a yellow card for his troubles.
OFF THE BAR! Okazaki receives a lofted pass from Mahrez and connects with a bicycle kick, but the ball crashes against the bar!
PENALTY! Chambers handles in the area and Leicester are awarded a penalty! Mahrez heads to the spot and prepares to take...
GOAL! LEICESTER 1-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (RIYAD MAHREZ)
The Algerian international makes no mistakes as he strikes the spot-kick low into the corner of the net, off the inside of the post! Game on!
BOOKINGS: Amid all the drama, there have been a number of yellow cards - Chambers, Negredo and Fuchs have all been cautioned by the ref in the last few minutes as tempers begin flaring!
Negredo unlocks Ramirez with a pass which sends him charging towards the corner of the box but, with only the Spaniard to aim for, he hesitates and one of the Leicester defenders is able to make a timely intervention.
CHANCE! Leicester nearly make it two as Okazaki rolls the ball across to Vardy, but Ramirez gets back to cut it out and edge it wide of the post.
Boro win a free kick around 25 yards out, which Ramirez takes, but Morgan heads away. Two minutes of stoppage time indicated at the end of this half.
HALF TIME: LEICESTER 1-1 MIDDLESBROUGH
So it's all even at the break, with Leicester and Boro totting up a goal apiece. Alvaro Negredo broke his goalscoring drought with a well-taken strike in the 13th minute, but Leicester found their groove, seized the opportunity from the penalty spot via Riyad Mahrez after Calum Chambers's handball, and nearly grabbed a second late on in the half through Jamie Vardy.
17 – Since August 2015, Leicester have taken (17) and scored (13) more penalties than any other Premier League team. Foxy. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 26 November 2016
The Foxes have only enjoyed 41 percent of possession compared to Boro's 59 percent, but both sides have notched up one shot on goal and one off goal. So it's on a knife edge ahead of the second 45 minutes, with very little separating the two sides. It promises to be an exciting second half, that's for sure!
Elsewhere in the Premier League, West Bromwich Albion lead 1-0 at Hull City, Liverpool are goalless against Sunderland, and it's level at 1-1 between Swansea City and Crystal Palace. In the earlier kickoff, Manchester City won 2-1 at Burnley.
KICKOFF: Lee Mason blows his whistle and Leicester get the game back underway at the King Power Stadium.
The hosts begin brightly as Amartey crosses towards Huth, who had stayed forward, but Chambers heads clear.
Traore slaloms his way past Fuchs and Albrighton on the right hand side, but his touch is just too heavy when attempting a cross, and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
Valdes sends a few Boro hearts racing as he spills a routine Fuchs cross, but he is able to drop on top of the ball before Mahrez can react behind him.
BOOKING: Daniel Amartey becomes the third Leicester player to go into the book, after a trip on Fabio.
From the foul on Fabio, Ramirez whips in the subsequent free kick towards Gibson, but the centre-back can't get over the ball and it skims off the top off his head and out for a goal kick.
Little to report here at the King Power as the ball is being passed around in the middle of the park. Traore tries to take the initiative by attempting a cross into the box from the wing, but the ball is thwarted and cleared.
Barragan gives away a free kick in a dangerous area for a foul on Albrighton, which Mahrez stands over, but the Algerian fails to beat the first man and the opportunity is wasted.
Fuchs tries his luck from around 20 yards out from Vardy's lay-off, but the effort is poor and sails high over the bar. Still level between the two sides on the hour.
Fabio makes his way down the left wing and plays in De Roon, who in turn sends a lofted pass into the Foxes box, but Traore drags his shot well wide of the right post.
CHANCE! The referee accidentally gifts Leicester possession as the ball gets caught in between his feet and the Foxes very nearly bag a controversial goal as they march forward, Simpson crosses from the right wing and King nods the ball just over the bar.
BOOKING/SUBSTITUTION: Vardy goes in on a tough tackle on Clayton and ends up in the book. It's the England striker's last action of the game as he comes off for Islam Slimani.
Ramirez races towards the top of the box but, with Negredo perfectly positioned in the area, the former opts for glory, and Huth is there to block with his body.
SUBSTITUTION: Another Leicester change as Riyad Mahrez, who scored from the spot but was otherwise subdued today, is replaced by Ahmed Musa.
CHANCE! Leicester come very close to edging into the lead as an exchange between Slimani and Musa sees the ball rolled into the path of Okazaki, but Valdes saves from 18 yards!
CHANCE! More danger from the Foxes, with Slimani holding off his man to flick a delightful ball into the path of Amartey, who decides to pass to Musa rather than shoot, but the latter's effort skims the bar on its way out of play.
GOAL! LEICESTER 1-2 MIDDLESBROUGH (ALVARO NEGREDO)
After an extended spell of Leicester pressure, Boro come back and force themselves back into the lead! Forshaw plays a long ball over the top from inside his own half, which finds Negredo, and the Spaniard latches on to it before drilling the ball across Zieler and into the far corner!
SUBSTITUTION: A third and final change now for Leicester as Shinji Okazaki is replaced by Demarai Gray.
SUBSTITUTION: A change for the visitors now as Adama Traore is replaced by Cristhian Stuani.
Ramirez whips a ball across the face of goal, but it proves just a touch too heavy for Stuani, who charges forward but fails to get on the end of it.
CHANCE! Barragan has acres of space to pick out a cross from the right-hand edge of the box, but Zieler just gets his hand to the ball to tip it away from Stuani and Negredo.
CHANCE! Stuani looks to pick out the unmarked Negredo with a low cross towards the back post, but Huth slides in to divert the ball away from the Spaniard!
CHANCE! Leicester now applying the pressure - just moments after Musa fired wide, Amartey finds himself unmarked in a promising position after receiving a ball from Fuchs on the edge of the box, but his ferocious attempt sails just over.
SUBSTITUTION: Another Middlesbrough change as Gaston Ramirez is replaced by Viktor Fischer.
The assistant indicates three minutes of stoppage time.
PENALTY! Morgan is brought down by De Roon and Slimani has the chance to salvage a point from the spot for Leicester!
GOAL! LEICESTER 2-2 MIDDLEBROUGH (ISLAM SLIMANI, PENALTY)
Leicester have done it! Slimani sidefoots the ball down the middle and rescues a dramatic point for his side - the final whistle blows moments later!
FULL TIME: LEICESTER CITY 2-2 MIDDLESBROUGH
What a dramatic game this has turned out to be! Middlesbrough twice took the lead through Alvaro Negredo, whose goal drought is well and truly over, but mistakes at the back have twice given Leicester the chance to pull level from the spot - the second, deep in injury time!
This is all we have time for but stay with Sports Mole as we bring you match reports, player and manager reaction, and much more from all the weekend's main games! Thank you for following and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
