Randers 1-3 Leicester City: 3 Things learned from UEFA Conference League

Isolating Harvey Barnes against the opposition full-back

In recent weeks, Harvey Barnes has found his form and consequently, his confidence. The blistering change of pace, ability to carry internally or externally around his opponent, and a growing sense of quality in his final action — an outside shout for Gareth Southgate’s England setup for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

Brendan Rodgers has utilised his wide-man as a key component of chance creation since Barnes regained his confidence. A tactical deployment the Foxes have gone for is isolating the winger — either by building from the right-side of defence and switching the ball into Barnes wing or by playing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as an offensive-minded midfielder (as an #8), to secure the opposition’s midfield and defence, thus leaving Barnes alone.

It doesn’t matter how they’ve gone about it, ensuring he’s isolated has been key. Leicester City profited from this deployment merely two minutes into the game against Randers FC. Barnes initially started his run in the middle third, attracting the interest of the full-back, before exploding into the vacated space on the left-channel. Once behind his marker, it was an acute 1-on-1 situation, which the 24-year-old finished in quite brilliant fashion — given the conditions of the pitch.

Recognising that the left-winger is one of the best in the league, and playing to his strengths, has been very rewarding for Rodgers in recent matches. West Ham United had to sacrifice a substitution in an attempt to nullify his danger, whereas Randers just afforded him space. As the season progresses, I’m sure that this tactical nuance of isolating Barnes will be continually prevalent for the Foxes, and most likely, a rewarding one too.