London - Claudio Ranieri gambled on a second-string team for this dead rubber and was provided with a lifeless display that cranks up the pressure for Leicester’s Premier League return.
The Foxes were humiliated in Porto, a result that does not affect the club’s progression as Champions League group winners but could hurt the players’ mental resilience for the relegation battle ahead.
Ranieri made 10 changes to his starting line-up, with an eye on Saturday’s visit by Manchester City, and had wished to see those given a chance present him with a selection dilemma.
But nothing of the sort transpired. This was a reminder of those glamour summer friendlies against Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, four-goal defeats that told of Leicester’s need to adjust when facing Europe’s elite. PSG are among the sides Leicester could pull out of the hat in Monday’s draw for the last-16 and while the big names will return for that tie in February, Ranieri’s immediate concern will be triggering an upturn in form domestically.
Porto's players celebrate their goal during the UEFA Champions League Group G football match between FC Porto and Leicester City FC at Dragon stadium in Porto. Photo: Xinhua/Zhang Liyun
With Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Robert Huth among those left back home, only Wes Morgan survived from the defeat at Sunderland four days previously and instead some rarely seen faces populated the team.
Ben Hamer’s inclusion in goal was perhaps the most surprising. The 29-year-old’s last senior game of any description was in August 2015 for Bristol City in a Championship defeat by Burnley and his selection casts doubt on Ranieri’s satisfaction with Ron-Robert Zieler as Kasper Schmeichel’s stand-in.
There were Champions League debuts too for Ben Chilwell, the highly rated 19-year-old left-back, and Nampalys Mendy, who was playing for the first time since August after a troublesome ankle injury.
Leicester wore their red third-kit and looked imposters compared to last season’s champions. Porto needed victory to guarantee passage, with Copenhagen hoping Ranieri’s team could do them a favour by stealing a draw. What those Danish players must have thought going in at the interval 2-0 up in Bruges, only to see the scoreline from Portugal.
Leicester were behind within six minutes and produced a passive performance thereafter that should trouble Ranieri, even though this match didn’t matter in a material sense.
It was another set-piece that undid them, in the simplest of ways. Jesus Corona delivered an outswinging cross and Andre Silva appeared to escape Jeff Schlupp to power a header down and in. Not including penalties, the goal was the seventh Leicester have conceded from a dead ball this season and further evidence something needs addressing.
Porto doubled their lead spectacularly 20 minutes later. There seemed little danger when Alex Telles held possession in the corner but he produced a deep cross that went beyond Chilwell and found Corona, who struck the ball on the volley with such timing it flew into the top of Hamer’s net.
Porto's players celebrate their goal during the UEFA Champions League Group G football match between FC Porto and Leicester City FC at Dragon stadium in Porto. Photo: Xinhua/Zhang Liyun
The stadium, punctured by empty seats, made an almighty racket in response.
Leicester’s misery was compounded a minute before the break when Corona slipped in Maxi Pereira on the overlap and his cut-back was met with a delightful flick by the unmarked Yacine Brahimi.
Porto are a technically gifted side but goals have not been their forte recently, just three in eight games prior to Wednesday night.
Leicester finished the first period with just 32 per cent possession and for the start of the second Ranieri sent on Leonardo Ulloa and Marc Albrighton.
Only on the hour did the visitors craft an opening, Danny Drinkwater crossing for Shinji Okazaki, whose header was kept out by Iker Casillas with the offside flag raised in any case.
Porto took the score to four shortly after. Referee Felix Zwayer judged that Drinkwater pulled down Silva in the box, and the striker sent Hamer the wrong way from the spot.
And to underline a truly dispiriting experience for Leicester a fifth arrived 13 minutes from the end when Diogo Jota ran through again and finished through the legs of Hamer.
@lauriewhitwell