This is Leicestershire --Leicester City were convincingly beaten by a star-studded AS Monaco side at the King Power Stadium.
A crowd of 10,633 turned out on Saturday to watch City take on the French Ligue 1 side, who have spent more than £200million on such international stars as Radamal Falcao, Joao Moutinho, Eric Abidal, Ricardo Carvalho and Jeremy Toulalan in a bid to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Monaco boss Claudio Ranieri fielded a strong side and all five of his big-hitters started the game, with another huge multi-million pound signing, James Rodriguez, among 15 substitutes.
City boss Nigel Pearson sent out a side that is not expected to be too far off the line-up that is likely to kick-off the new season at Middlesbrough on Saturday, with the exception of striker David Nugent, who was not risked because of a minor thigh strain.
City also employed the 3-5-2 formation that Pearson has used several times during pre-season.
City started the game brightly when Jamie Vardy burst in behind the Monaco defence and pulled the ball back for the on-rushing Matty James, but Danijel Subasic produced a good save.
From that point on it was the French side in control, with City enjoying only occasional bright moments.
Moutinho was pulling the strings in midfield and Falcao's movement up front was causing City plenty of problems, which was to be expected from players of such outstanding quality.
What was not expected was for City to go behind to a straight-forward set-piece after just eight minutes.
City may not face the likes of Falcao and Moutinho in the Championship, but they will have to defend plenty of corners – and they will have to do it a lot better than they did when Moutinho curled in a near-post corner and Layvin Kurzawa stole a march on Andy King to glance his header home.
The visitors dominated possession, aided by City who stood off their opponents and gave them plenty of time and space to play, affording them too much respect.
City had their bright moments. Chris Wood forced a good save from Subasic, and then the striker picked out James – one of the home side's better performers – who wriggled between two defenders and beat the Monaco keeper with a back-heel, but his effort was cleared as it trickled towards the goal-line.
However, Falcao's influence was growing in the game. Wes Morgan produced a timely block to deny him, and Kasper Schmeichel had to be sharp to save at the Colombian's feet after he beat the City off-side trap minutes later.
City were emphatically undone in the 38th minute when Monaco carved them open with a goal of breath-taking quality. Falcao and right-back Andrea Raggi were involved at the start of a sweeping move, and eventually it was Raggi's low cross which found the unmarked Falcao and he swept home from close range after Yannick Ferriera Carrasco had sold a great dummy.
City made seven changes at half-time and, 20 minutes later, Monaco made 10 substitutions.
But the second half lacked any intensity, which was surprising considering the amount of fresh legs on the pitch.
Subasic and then sub keeper Marc-Aurele Caillard were barely troubled by City in the second period, and that will be of concern to Pearson.
Anthony Knockaert and Martyn Waghorn both had decent efforts, and Neil Danns probably had City's best chance of the half but his goal-bound shot struck Knockaert.
At the other end, Schmeichel was still getting a good work-out as Valere Germain and Delvin Ndinga forced him to make good saves.
However, Marcel Tisserand sealed the win for Monaco with a deft finish four minutes from the end, and the margin of victory did not flatter them. Reported by This is 3 days ago.