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Pre-season Friendlies
Jul 27, 2013 at 4.15pm UK
 
Monaco

0-3

FT(HT: 0-2)
Kurzawa (8'), Falcao (38'), Tisserand (86')

Live Commentary: Leicester City 0-3 Monaco - as it happened

Relive our coverage of the pre-season friendly between Leicester City and Monaco at the King Power Stadium.
2

Radamel Falcao was among the scorers as Monaco beat Leicester City 3-0 in a pre-season friendly this afternoon.

The £53m striker tapped in from close range just before half time, with Layvin Kurzawa and Marcel Tisserand also finding the back of the net.

The Foxes created several good chances but were unable to beat Monaco keeper Danijel Subasic.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good afternoon! Welcome to our live coverage of the pre-season friendly between Leicester City and Monaco at the King Power Stadium. Both sides have already confirmed their starting lineups for this afternoon's match, and the big news is that Radamel Falcao starts for visitors. Let's take a look at the full lineups for both sides...

LEICESTER STARTING XI: Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky, Drinkwater, Morgan, Whitbread, James, Vardy, King, St Ledger, Wood

MONACO STARTING XI: Subasic, Kurzawa, Carvalho, Moutinho, Falcao, Ocampos, Ferreira-Carrasco, Obadi, Abidal, Raggi, Toulalan

Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri has named a strong side to face the Foxes, including £53m signing Falcao, along with fellow new boys Eric Abidal and Joao Moutinho

Nigel Pearson has also gone with what is pretty much Leicester first team. Kasper Schmeichel returns in goal, having been rested against League Two side York City earlier this week, while Chris Wood will lead the attack. The New Zealander has scored nine goals in 19 appearances since joining the Foxes in January.

Monaco have been particularly active in the transfer market this summer as they prepare for life in Ligue 1. Ranieri has so far made 10 new signings and has also brought in four players from the club's B team.

Leicester will be hoping to emulate their opponents over the next season by securing promotion to the Premier League. They came close last season, reaching the playoffs, but were knocked out in the semi-finals. Pearson has made just the one signing so far this summer, securing Zoumana Bakayogo from Tranmere Rovers. The defender is among the home side's substitutes for this afternoon's game.

Ahead of this afternoon's game, Kasper Schmeichel told Leicester's official website: "I am looking forward to Monaco. It's a great test for us. They've been busy in the transfer market, so it'll be interesting to play against them and I think everyone is looking forward to it. We're looking forward to the season. It has been a long time since I played in Leicester. It's good to be back and I can't wait for the season to start now."

It's been a difficult week for Falcao. The Colombian has had to deny reports that he has been lying about his age, after an apparent old school document appeared to show that he is 29, while his official FIFA record states that he is 27. The striker wrote on Twitter: "I have been surprised with stories in the media about my age. They are totally ridiculous. I want to deny this and end this issue once and for all."

Leicester will also be using this afternoon's match to launch their new away kit. The team will wear their new home shirts for the first half before unveiling the away strip at half time. They'll need them next weekend, as they face a trip to Middlesbrough on the opening day of the Championship season.

As kickoff approaches, it's time to make a prediction. Obviously, Monaco have to be the favourites heading into the game, and with such a strong team it's hard to imagine anything but a comfortable win for the visitors. That said, Leicester have an experienced defence, and if they can keep Monaco off the scoreboard early on, they could make a game of it. I think I'm going to go for a 3-1 Monaco win.

It's also worth noting that both sides have plenty of substitutes this afternoon. Pearson has named 10 players on the bench, while Ranieri has gone for 15! With that in mind, we should see plenty of changes in the second half.

Both sets of players are heading onto the pitch ready for this afternoon's match. It's not a full house at the King Power Stadium, but it's a decent sized crowd.

KICKOFF:Leicester get the first half underway.

CHANCE! What a positive start it's been by Leicester! Whitbread and Konchesky win the ball in midfield before picking out Jamie Vardy with a long ball forward. Vardy pulls it back for James, but Subasic gets a hand to it to push it wide for a corner, which is comfortably cleared by the visitors.

Monaco win a free kick in midfield, which Moutinho lines up. He drills the ball into the Leicester penalty area, but Wes Morgan calmly heads it away.

CHANCE! Lucas Ocampos gets the first sight at goal for Monaco, managing to shake off St Ledger before unleashing a rocket from the edge of the penalty area, but his effort was just high.

CHANCE! Monaco are starting to get into their stride, as some patient build up play from Falcao and Raggi sets up Moutinho for a shot, but Schmeichel tips it over.

GOAL! Leicester 0-1 Monaco (Kurzawa)

Schmeichel may have been able to put Moutinho's effort out for a corner, but he couldn't stop a deadly header from left back Layvin Kurzawa, who had come up for the corner, as the 20-year-old's calm finish left the Leicester keeper rooted to the spot.

CHANCE! From the re-start, De Laet has a chance to get Leicester back on level terms straight away, trying to drill the ball in from the right hand side of the box, but it's an easy stop for Subasic.

Leicester are on the attack again. Chris Wood picks up the in midfield but has little support, so lines up an effort from range, but Abidal makes an easy block. Despite Monaco's early goal, Leicester have been playing some positive football in the opening minutes of this match.

Falcao wins the ball on the edge of the penalty area, and produces some impressive footwork as he looks to give himself some room to get a shot off, but Matty James is back to help out in defence and takes the ball away from the striker, much to the delight of the crowd.

Leicester have the ball in midfield and look to break into the final third of the pitch, but Whitbread and Konchesky can't find a gap in Monaco's well-organised defence. After being forced back to the half-way line, Konchesky tries a long ball to Wood, but the New Zealander is ruled offside.

CHANCE! Wood gets the ball again, this time keeping himself on side, but some solid marking from Carvalho leaves him with a difficult angle, and Subasic is able to get a hand to his shot, giving Leicester a corner.

Wood looks to get his head to the ball from the corner, but it's Carvalho again who hinders him. Monaco's defenders have been tested by the home side in the opening 20 minutes, but they've passed with flying colours so far.

From a free kick, Falcao tries to get clear for a header from close range, but he's being marked by Whitbread, who manages to climb marginally higher to nod the ball away from the Leicester goal. The Foxes have done a good job of keeping the £53m forward quiet so far this afternoon.

CHANCE! Mounir Obbadi has a shot from around 25 yards out, but Schmeichel watches it all the way before comfortable punching it over for a corner, which Leicester quickly clear.

Falcao gets the ball from Raggi in space inside the penalty area, but Morgan throws himself at the ball to block the Colombian's strike. It's brilliant defending from the Leicester captain!

Whitbread wins the ball in midfield and races into the Monaco half before picking out Konchesky on the left wing. Konchesky tries to cross into the box, but Kurzawa makes a block, and Monaco gain possession of the ball.

CHANCE! A brilliant ball into the box from Raggi finds Falcao, who is left with a simple header from close range. He nods the ball low in a bid to beat Schmeichel, but the keeper gets down quickly to make a superb stop. Falcao thinks he's through on goal again moments later, but he's flagged offside.

CHANCE! Raggi takes a shot from just outside the box having spotted Schmeichel off his line, but it deflects off Whitbread, leaving the keeper scrambling to get back but it goes over for a corner. Moutinho delivers the ball, but it's cleared by the home side.

Abidal defends brilliantly as Konchesky looks to cross the ball into the box for Wood, but the ex-Barcelona man intercepts the cross with a diving header.

CHANCE! Wood manages to lose Kurzawa on the edge of the box before passing to James. Subasic comes off his line to make the clearance so James tries to beat him with a flicked effort off his heel, but Carvalho sprints in to kick the ball away. Easily Leicester's best chance so far.

GOAL! Leicester 0-2 Monaco (Falcao)

It's a clinical finish from Radamel Falcao to punish Leicester for their missed effort just moments earlier. Yannick Ferreira Carrasco crosses the ball in front of goal with the Colombian racing into the box, leaving him with a simple tap in from close range.

Leicester play the ball out from the back with Whitbread finding Konchesky again, but Carvalho is on hand to keep the ball out of Monaco's penalty area. On the counter attack, Occampos tries to get on the end of a ball into the Leicester box, but Schmeichel gets to it first.

HALF TIME: Leicester City 0-2 Monaco

Monaco are in control heading into half time thanks for goals from Layvin Kurzawa and Radamel Falcao in the opening 45 minutes. Leicester worked hard to keep the French side's prize signing away from their goal, but he managed to find a gap in their defence just before the break to give them a two-goal advantage.

Leicester have had their chances. Chris Wood has got himself into some dangerous positions, while Matty James saw his effort cleared off the line by Carvalho

Leicester's substitutes have stayed out at half time to undertake some stretches so it looks like the home side will be making some changes early in the second half. With his team trailing, Pearson may be keen to give some of his fringe players some game time.

Speaking to Sky Sports News at half time, Ranieri said: "I am happy because it is important to win. I am happy for this but we have to improve a lot, we have not much time and we play against Pescara on Tuesday. It is important to stay ready for the championship."

KICKOFF: Monaco get the second half underway.

There are no changes for Monaco so far, but Nigel Pearson has made wholesale changes. Among the new faces are Jeff Schlupp and Anthony Knockaert.

SUBS! Here are the full details of Leicester's changes: Marshall, Dyer, Waghorn, Schlupp, Danns, Moore and Knockaert all come on, with De Laet, Konchesky, Whitbread, James, Vardy, King and Wood making way.

There's an injury concern for Monaco as Knockaert and Ferreira Carrasco come together, leaving the teenager midfielder in pain on the turf. However he's back on his feet and it looks like he's ok to continue.

Leicester had planned to play this second half in their new away kit, having unveiled it at half time, but the grey strip clashes with Subasic's keeper's shirt, so they've remained in their home colours.

Leicester win a corner, which Morgan delivers deep into the box. Drinkwater looks to get his head to it, but Subasic is able to punch it away. The hosts have made a bright start to the second half.

Moutinho looks to set up Obbadi on the edge of the Leicester penalty box, but the home side comfortably clear the danger. Meanwhile, a number of Monaco's substitutes have returned to the dressing room to warm up as the fourth official is only allowing three players to stretch along the sideline at a time. Ranieri is apparently planning 11 changes on the hour mark.

The pace seems to have dropped from the first half, with Monaco seemingly happy just to keep possession at the back ahead of the anticipated mass changes in a couple of minutes time.

SUB! Paul Gallagher comes on for Sean St Ledger for Leicester.

CHANCE! Ocampos has a shot at goal for Monaco as Toulalan delivers the ball into the box, but his shot is dragged wide. It looks like it could be this version of Monaco's last attempt at the Leicester goal, as the substitutes are all lined up and ready to come on on the sideline.

Schlupp and Marshall build up well from the left wing before the latter crosses the ball in, but Subasic comes off his line to make a comfortable catch.

SUBS! Ranieri has indeed tinkered with his team, bringing on 11 fresh players. It will be interesting to see how quickly the team get up to pace.

Dyer shows impresses pace down the left wing as he looks to create a chance for the homeside, but who loses his footing, allowing Monaco to go on the counter attack. A long ball forward finds James Rodriguez, but his effort is well off target.

Waghorn tries to lob the ball in from the far right of the box, but it's an impossible angle for the 23-year-old, handing Monaco the goal kick.

Schlupp races through midfield before finding Marshall. The midfielder goes for goal from range, but the ball takes a deflection, giving Leicester a corner. Marshall takes the set piece, but Caillard makes a comfortable catch as he's called into action for the first time since replacing Subasic.

CHANCE! Schlupp shows his pace again setting up a chance for Danns, who tries to smash it in from just inside the penalty area, but is unlucky as the ball is blocked by his own teammate, Knockaert.

SUB! Leicester's new signing Zoumana Bakayogo is on for Danny Drinkwater.

CHANCE! Schmeichel has to make a tricky save as Valere Germain hits a powerful strike as he looks to seal the game for Monaco. Germain gets another sight at goal moments later, but again Schmeichel is alert.

CHANCE! Monaco are really testing Schmeichel at the moment. This time it's Delvin N'Dinga with a low volley from the edge of the box, but the Dane gets his body behind the ball to make the stop.

CHANCE! Schlupp makes a superb run from the half-way line, but rushes his shot, and slices the ball high into the stands.

GOAL! Leicester 0-3 Monaco (Tisserand)

After a quiet spell, Monaco break through the centre of midfield, with Marcel Tisserand beating Leicester's back four leaving just Schmeichel to beat, which the 20-year-old does with a calm tap in from close range.

Monaco are pushing for a fourth as full time approaches. Riviere gets the ball inside the penalty box but a mis kick sees his effort go harmlessly behind, with what should be the final move of the match.

FULL TIME: Leicester City 0-3 Monaco

The second half lacked the energy of the first, but Monaco showed their ability to keep the ball and close out the match for a comfortable 3-0 win.

Despite the scoreline, there were plenty of positives for Leicester. Schlupp looked impressive after coming on at half time, while Schmeichel make several impressive stops between the posts.

Well, that's all from the King Power Stadium this evening, but stick around for coverage of Valerenga against Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain versus Real Madrid later this evening. Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.

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Monaco boss Claudio Ranieri gestures to his players on the touchline on May 4, 2013
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