Porto eased into the Champions League knockout stages with an embarrassingly simple 5-0 win over Leicester City’s struggling second-string side in the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday.

With their qualification as Group G victors assured, the English champions rested key players, handing starting jerseys to the likes of struggling Nigerian international Ahmed Musa. Their Portuguese hosts happily cashed in hungrily with a double from Andre Silva and fine strikes from Jesus Corona, Yacine Brahimi and Diogo Jota.

Leicester had only conceded one goal in their previously unbeaten first Champions League campaign but shipped three in 45 minutes with Silva starting the rout by heading home unchallenged from Corona’s corner after six minutes.

One-way traffic and two brilliant goals ensued, Corona’s magnificent first-time volley from Alex Telles’ cross in the 25th minute being followed by Brahimi’s cheeky back-heel finish from Maxi Pereira’s delivery just before halftime.

After a fairytale start to their European adventures which matched their Premier League heroics last season, Leicester, who had left the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy at home, were suddenly left with nothing but thoughts of damage limitation.

They improved markedly but Danny Drinkwater’s 65th-minute foul on Silva allowed the striker to get up and slot home his fifth European goal of the season from the spot before Jota crashed home a fifth.

Even worse for the hopelessly outclassed visitors, Drinkwater, one of the few first-team regulars on duty, limped off with an ominous-looking injury.

With Copenhagen winning at Club Bruges in the other group game, Porto finished two points ahead of the Danish side and two adrift of Leicester.

•Adapted from a Reuters report. Photo shows Ahmed Musa.

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