Perhaps Claudio Ranieri should play the Champions League anthem to Riyad Mahrez before every game this season.
That famous music always seems to “wake up” the Algerian, as Ranieri remarked in Bruges last month, and here was another reminder that the current PFA Player of the Year saves the stardust for European competition.
Mahrez has struggled to match those glorious highs of last season in the Premier League so far, drifting in and out of games when he has been sorely needed, but this was another reminder why Leicester were quoting prices north of £50 million for the winger this summer.
After his crucial strike against an obdurate FC Copenhagen late in the first half, he has now been directly involved in four of Leicester’s five Champions League goals this season (three goals and one assist).
And while his own defence of the player of the year award may be proving a slow-burner on the domestic front, as it did with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard last season, Mahrez’s influence leaves Leicester on the brink of qualifying for the knock-out stages next year.
Wearing eye-catching red boots and black gloves, he was starved of service for large portions of the first half but there is always a sharp intake of breath around the King Power Stadium when the ball is at his feet.
The clipped finish from close range, after a header from Islam Slimani, was typically well executed and eased the nerves after a tense opening 40 minutes.
With Copenhagen chasing an equaliser in the second half, there was more space for Mahrez to exploit and he was finding pockets of space to drag defenders across both flanks.
In the 63rd minute he was possibly guilty of failing to spot a pass to Slimani as he advanced into the penalty area, his shot eventually blocked by a backpedalling Copenhagen defence.
But while nobody expects Leicester to stun the world for a second successive year by winning another title, perhaps too much pressure is being placed on Mahrez.
Much of the focus has been on Jamie Vardy, who has now gone eight games without a goal for Leicester, while Mahrez has also been accused of gross underachievement.
There is huge expectation that he will always produce a moment of magic, whatever the calibre of opposition, and it is easy to forget that only three years ago he was playing for Le Havre in the French Second Division.
He now earns around £100,000 a week after signing a new contract in August, a reward for his role in Leicester’s fairytale season.
But this season will be a different challenge for the 25-year-old, with the secret very much out on Leicester and their method of attack.
At times his body language has appeared suspect, almost looking exasperated at times, and it is arguably only the games against Swansea and Burnley in which he has impressed in the league.
But his status as one of the most skilful players in Europe is without question and the bargain of the century remains priceless for Ranieri.
Source: Leicester City’s mercurial Algerian Riyad Mahrez saves his stardust for Champions League again
