Leicester 3-1 Legia Warsaw: Foxes rocket to the top of a tense Group C

Crowd violence blighted Leicester’s progress to the brink of the Europa League knockout stages as Legia Warsaw supporters fought battles with police leaving both clubs facing a UEFA investigation.

Patson Daka, James Maddison and Wilfred Ndidi’s first-half goals meant Leicester will need only a point at Napoli next month to guarantee qualification from their group, but incidents off the field blighted events on it for the second time in European competition here this season.

Leicester were fined £17,000 by UEFA for crowd trouble during their 2-2 draw with Napoli in September and the governing body are certain to look into what happened in this game.

James Maddison put in a sublime performance as Leicester defeated Legia Warsaw 3-1

The playmaker’s Cruyff turn and cut inside resulted in a stunning goal to put his side ahead

Midway through the second half, groups of the 1,134 supporters housed in the away end attempted to reach Leicester fans by storming through the lines of security that separated them.

Dozens of police dressed in riot gear managed to push the Legia fans back after a battle that lasted about 10 minutes, and saw missiles launched towards the police and the Leicester fans.

On the incident, Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers said: ‘I didn’t see so much of it. It went on for a period of time and is not something you want to see. I haven’t really seen or heard any details but hopefully nobody has been injured.’

On the pitch, Maddison produced a display to get Leicester fans cheering again after Rodgers had demanded greater backing from supporters.

Summer signing Patson Daka opened the scoring with a fine turn and low driven shot

The striker lapped up the adoration of the King Power after breaking the deadlock

MATCH FACTS

Leicester (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6; Castagne 6, Amartey 6, Soyuncu 6, Thomas 6.5; Soumare 5.5 (Dewsbury-Hall 62, 6), Ndidi 6.5; Lookman 5.5 (Albrighton 85), MADDISON 7.5 (Perez 63, 6), Barnes 7; Daka 6 (Iheanacho 85).

Subs not used: Ward, Stolarczyk, Bertrand, Vardy, Choudhury, Vestergaard, Marcal Madivadua.

Scorers: Daka 11, Maddison 21, Ndidi 33

Booked: Thomas, Albrighton

Manager: Brendan Rodgers 7

Legia Warsaw (5-4-1): Miszta 5; Ribeiro 5, Johansson 6 (Holownia 46, 6) Wieteska 5.5, Jedrzejczyk 6, Mladenovic 7 (Skibicki 71, 6); Muci 6, Slisz 5.5, Andre Martins 6.5 (Celhaka, 71, 6), Luquinhas 6 (Pekhart 82); Emreli 5.5 (Wlodarczyk 78).

Subs not used: Tobiasz, Skibicki, Wlodarczyk, Rose, Ciepiela.

Scorers: Mladenovic 27

Booked: Mladenovic, Wieteska, Jedrejczyk

Manager: Marek Golebiewski 6

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Rodgers was reacting to boos from home fans that greeted their 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea last weekend but this time he said: ‘The atmosphere was amazing and the supporters played a huge part. It was a very good performance, particularly in the first half.’

Either side of Filip Mladenovic’s strike for Legia, Maddison curled in Leicester’s second and then his corner created the third for Ndidi.

The playmaker has struggled to maintain top form since a hip injury in February and will hope this is his breakthrough moment.

Maddison said: ‘I am hungry. I want to do well for my team, fans, family and the manager.

‘I want to get back to my best and tonight I showed that. A goal and assist, affecting the team.

‘When you are an attacking player, goals and assists are what you want and that is what I am about. I am really happy. It feels good.’

Leicester will face sterner opposition than this, notably on Sunday when Watford boss Claudio Ranieri returns to King Power Stadium for the first time since leading Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016.

Yet after the Chelsea hammering, this was a welcome result for the FA Cup winners.

They were forced into a late change with Daniel Amartey replacing Jonny Evans, who complained of a thigh injury, yet Leicester started sharply and Patson Daka fired them ahead in the 11th minute.

Wilfred N’Didi leapt highest to nod home Maddison’s corner and open a greater lead

Brendan Rodgers continued to will his side on from the touchline and urged for high tempo

It was Daka’s fifth goal in as many Europa League appearances for Leicester and remarkably made him the club’s all-time top scorer in European football.

Leicester doubled their lead in the 21st minute when Maddison twisted on to his left foot before planting a fine strike beyond Cezary Miszta.

Legia were gifted a way back into the game as Caglar Soyuncu headed a cross against the flailing arm of team-mate Ndidi. Although Kasper Schmeichel saved Mahir Emreli’s penalty, Mladenovic tapped home the rebound.

Rodgers looked unusually agitated on the sidelines but his mood improved when Ndidi rose above Miszta to nod in Maddison’s inswinging corner.

Harvey Barnes squandered the chance for a fourth midway through the second half and soon after several flares were let off in the Legia end, the trouble began. Police clashed with supporters in a series of worrying incidents.