As first taste of European semi-finals go, this barnstorming match will surely have whet the appetite of Leicester. Ademola Lookman bundled in a second-half equaliser via Gianluca Mancini to cancel out Roma’s early opener and ensure a grandstand finish in the second leg of this Europa Conference League contest at the enormous Stadio Olimpico next Thursday, leaving José Mourinho frustrated on his return to England. The Portuguese had reeled off eight of Leicester’s attacking threats in the buildup to this game and his stubborn side eventually wilted.
Brendan Rodgers had eulogised about Mourinho’s influence on his career during their three years together at Chelsea and, after taking the opportunity to catch up, the Leicester manager handed his opposite number a bottle of red. “He got me the best Portuguese bottle of wine,” Mourinho said. “He’s crying because it’s really expensive, but he wanted to give me my favourite bottle of Portuguese wine. It is really hard to find. I don’t know how he found it, but I know how he paid.”
