Leicester City’s fantasy success story embarked on its finale on Monday when they were crowned the champions of the Premier League, after Tottenham drew 2-2 with Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge.
No one could imagine that last season they needed a torrid winning streak towards the end to avoid being relegated back to the second division. No one could image that the team crowned Premier League champions were 5000-1 favourites for the title at the start of the season.
But then this is football. And the unimaginable has a way of seeping into the storyline.
Even as Leicester celebrate one of the greatest turnarounds of the sports’ history, let’s take you back to 10 key matches which Leicester played this season, on their way to the title.
1. Leicester City 1 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City started their 2015-16 Premier League campaign against Sunderland on the 8th of August 2015 at their home ground. They won the match comprehensively 4-2 and then carried on their winning form to London beating West Ham United 2-1.
The first crucial test for the Foxes came in the form of Tottenham Hotspur, their closest competitor in the league so far, on the 22nd of August 2015.
Playing at Leicester, it was Tottenham who took the initial lead through Dele Alli in the 81st Minute. But within 90 seconds Riyad Mahrez, scored his fourth goal of the season to level scores for the home team.
2. Leicester City 2 – 5 Arsenal
Leicester tasted their first disappoint of the season when they took on Arsenal on 26th September 2015. Barring Tottenham, this was Foxes’ first major game of the season and they were defeated by a disappointing scoreline of 2-5.
The match started on a good note for the home team as Jamie Vardy continued his fine form and put them ahead right in the 13th minute. But five minutes later Theo Walcott brought the Gunners back into the game by an equaliser. And from then on Alexis Sanchez took over and scored a brilliant hat-trick to demolish things for Leicester.
Sanchez’s rediscovered his goalscoring touch in this contest as he failed to find the net in his previous eight games across all competitions.
As for the home team, Vardy who pulled another one back in the dying minutes of the game to reduce the margin of defeat, scored in four successive league games for the first time in his career.
3. Leicester City 1 – 1 Manchester United
The loss against Arsenal did not really demoralize Leicester as they played the next six games defeat less. But all these games were against relatively inconsistent teams (Leicester was a part of this list until last season) and their next real challenge came in on 28 November 2015 against Manchester United.
In this match, Jamie Vardy wrote his name into the Premier League history by scoring in his 11th successive game. But both Leicester City and Manchester United missed their chance to go top of the table as Schweinsteiger scored the equalizer for the visiting Manchester United.
4. Leicester City 2 – 1 Chelsea
The first major victory for the Foxes came on the 15 of December 2015 when they defeated defending champions Chelsea 2-1.
Jamie Vardy’s 15th goal of the season put Leicester ahead before half-time and Riyad Mahrez’s brilliant curling strike just after the break sealed the win for Claudio Ranieri’s side. With this win Leicester also returned to the top of the table.
5. Liverpool 1– 0 Leicester City
Leicester’s nine match unbeaten Premier League run was halted just a day after Christmas when they failed the litmus test at Anfield and lost to a solitary goal to Liverpool. It was Christian Benteke’s second half winner that ensured ‘The Reds’ a victory.
As until this match Leicester’s England striker Jamie Vardy and Algeria playmaker Riyad Mahrez contributed 29 of 37 Premier League goals, as well as providing 10 assists for each other or their team-mates.
6. Leicester City 0 – 0 Manchester City
So far, the team was known for making comebacks and this time around they were against 2013-14 season winner Manchester City.
But unfortunately for them Leicester missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League as they played out a goalless draw with Manchester City at the King Power Stadium. At this point of time, Arsenal was on top of the table (on goal difference) as the Foxes succumbed to their second defeat of the season on the Boxing Day.
7. Tottenham Hotspur 0 – 1 Leicester City
After playing two draws, they returned to the winning ways when the defeated Tottenham at their home on 13 January 2016. Robert Huth scored a late winner after it looked like that the Foxes were heading for a fourth league game without a goal. The game also saw the return of Jamie Vardy from a groin surgery.
8. Leicester City 2 – 0 Liverpool
Jamie Vardy took a perfect revenge of their Anfield loss on 3 February 2016 when he scored twice to help Leicester beat Liverpool comprehensively. This win put them three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
And with his brace Vardy took his goals tally to 18.
9. Manchester City 1 – 3 Leicester City
They next travelled to the Ethihad and continued their fine form by beating Manchester City 3-1 comprehensively.
At this point, Manchester City was their closest rival but a brace by Robert Huth and a gaol by Mahrez ensured Leicester five points clear at the top of the table.
And with his goal Riyad Mahrez (14 goals, 10 assists) became the first player in the Premier League to reach double figures in terms of both goals and assists in the Premier League this season.
10. Leicester City 4 – 0 Swansea City
On 24 April 2016, Leicester City demolished Swansea 4-0 and restored their eight-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur. With this win they took another stride towards the Premier League title. This was their 22nd victory and in their phenomenal run this season, Leicester has lost just three matches.
The only match which they lost after their win against Manchester City was against Arsenal at the Holloway, London.
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