Premier League champions Leicester City return to the Champions League this week when they travel to Sevilla on Wednesday night (7.45pm kick-off).

Claudio Ranieri’s men eased to the top of their group earlier in the season, winning four of their six matches, and picking up 13 points from a possible 18.

However, their domestic form pales in stark contrast to that, as the champions have struggled in their title defence, sitting 17th in the Premier League table and just a point above the bottom three.

Add in the fact that they were knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday by League One side Millwall, and the Foxes are supremely low on confidence, and couldn’t arrive at a Champions League last-16 clash in much worse form if they tried.

Nonetheless, European competition clearly brought the best out of the Foxes earlier in the campaign, although Sevilla are an excellent side who currently sit third in La Liga, and have won the last three Europa League competitions.

So, with the build-up well underway ahead of Wednesday’s encounter, here are THREE reasons why Leicester will get the victory in Seville…

Have been excellent in Europe

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Forget their domestic troubles, which sees them 17th in the Premier League and having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Millwall at the weekend, Leicester were excellent in their Champions League group stage campaign.

The Foxes won four of their six matches to comfortably top Group G and, although three of those wins came at the King Power Stadium, they did pick up four points from their away matches, beating Club Brugge 3-0 and then drawing 0-0 with FC Copenhagen.

Although they were thumped by FC Porto in their last match, Ranieri made several changes to his side for that clash, so it’s clear that they have embraced the Champions League challenge this term, and there’s no reason why they can’t go to Sevilla and pick up an important victory.

Safeguard of home leg second

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Although the draw could have been a lot worse for Leicester, Sevilla are an excellent side who currently sit third in La Liga, and have won the Europa League for the past three seasons.

And, given Leicester’s struggles in recent weeks, the Foxes must make sure they stay in the tie ahead of the second leg at the King Power Stadium on March 14.

The safeguard of having the home leg second comes from winning your group, and this will certainly play on Ranieri’s mind when they travel to Sevilla, as the Foxes’ home record both domestically and in Europe has been pretty good this term.

By having the home leg second, it also gives them the incentive to get a crucial away goal, and with their ability to defended resolutely and hit teams on the break, this could play into Leicester’s hands on Wednesday.

Can take minds off league struggles

Leicester are currently 17th in the Premier League having won five of their 25 league games this term, while they also got knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend away at League One side Millwall.

Clearly, it has been a tough few weeks for the Foxes, but returning to Champions League action can not only reignite fond memories of their excellent group stage campaign, but it can also take their minds away from the pressures of their league struggles.

The way Leicester performed in their group matches should give them great confidence going into Wednesday’s clash, regardless of recent form, and they know that if they can get to that level again versus Sevilla, they will have a genuine chance of getting a result, and indeed progressing to the last eight.