Thanks to a 3-2 aggregate victory over Rennes and despite a 2-1 defeat on the night, Leicester City’s UEFA Europa Conference League hopes remain alive. The Foxes find themselves in their first European quarter-finals since 2017 – having held out against their determined hosts with tons of luck.As they looked to climb back into the tie, Rennes started the match on the front foot. After only nine minutes, their pressure told when a Martin Terrier cross into the danger area ricocheted off of Benjamin Bourigeaud to cut Leicester’s aggregate lead to 2-1.In the remaining 35 minutes of the opening interval, the Foxes managed to weather the storm but Rennes continued to enjoy the better of play.It all set the scene for a second half of high tension and drama. In the opening minutes, Daniel Amartey saw his header from point-blank range saved by Doğan Alemdar in superb fashion but Rennes’ luck ran out on the resulting corner kick. Ademola Lookman, who came in as a substitute in the first half, whipped the ball into the danger area and Wesley Fofana sent a header into the back of the net to restore Leicester’s two-goal lead. A glorious way to mark a return to action after a serious leg injury.When Flavien Tait struck home a low shot from the edge of the box, Rennes pulled themselves back within touching distance in dramatic fashion. Leicester were sweating for the final 15 minutes of the evening.Rennes will be disappointed because it was too little- too late as their Conference League campaign comes to an end at the hands of the Premier League side. There were several questionable situations in the final 10 minutes were Leicester players handled the ball in their own box but since there is no VAR in this competition – the French side can feel ‘robbed’ off qualifying further.Back in Ligue 1, four straight wins have lifted Bruno Génésio’s side into pole position to return to European competition next season.Leicester City find some satisfaction in their European journey as it is not going that well in the Premier League.UEFA EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUELast 16, second legThursdayCopenhagen – PSV 0-4 (0-2)/Zahavi 10, 79, Gotze 38, Madueke 90+1/PSV PROCEED ON AGG 8-4AZ Alkmaar – Bodo 2-1 (2-1) 2-2 AET/Pavlidis 18, 30 – Pellegrino 26, Sampsted 105+1/BODO PROCEED ON AGG 4-3Rennes – Leicester 2-1 (1-0)/Bourigeaud 8, Tait 76 – Fofana 51/LEICESTER PROCEED ON AGG 3-2Basel – Olympique Marseille 1-2 (0-0)/Ndoye 63 – Under 74, Rongier 90+3/MARSEILLE PROCEED ON AGG 4-223.00: (1.42) Feyenoord (4.60) Partizan (7.50) /first leg 5-2/23.00: (1.75) Gent (3.60) PAOK (5.60) /first leg 0-1/23.00: (3.00) LASK (3.50) Slavia Praha (2.45) /first leg 1-4/23.00: (1.55) Roma (4.30) Vitesse (6.75) /first leg 1-0/***odds are subject to change
