Barcelona protects its La Liga lead with a slim win at Leganes

FC Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski celebrates after Leganes’ Jorge Saenz scored an personal purpose for his or her first purpose.
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters

Barcelona eked out a 1-0 win after an personal purpose from relegation-threatened Leganes to guard its lead within the Spanish league.

Raphinha, Barcelona’s breakout participant of the season and the Champions League’s main scorer, got here by once more for Hasni Flick’s staff in assault – and protection.

Raphina’s harmful cross was was the online by Leganes defender Jorge Sáenz for the sport’s solely purpose within the forty eighth minute. The Brazil ahead then confirmed hustle when he disrupted a promising cross for Leganes’ high scorer, Daniel Rabaseda, late within the first half.

The hard-earned win prolonged Barcelona’s result in seven factors over Actual Madrid earlier than the titleholders go to Alaves on Sunday. After this weekend there are seven rounds left, together with a “clasico” subsequent month.

“These video games are the place leagues are received,” Barcelona’s Éric García stated. “It was an evening to place the stress (on Madrid).” Leganes shocked Barcelona 1-0 in December, throughout a dip in kind by the Catalan membership. However for the reason that begin of 2025, Barcelona has now gone 24 video games with out a loss and is within the operating for a treble of titles together with the Copa del Rey, the place it has arrange a remaining in opposition to Madrid.

“To win this match was essential,” Flick stated. “I’m actually proud about my staff. What they’re doing the final weeks and months is unbelievable.” Barcelona stored up is momentum earlier than it visits Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday aiming to make good on its 4-0 first-leg win of their Champions League quarterfinal.

Sáenz’s error spoiled an in any other case robust efficiency from the southern Madrid facet, which generated extra scoring possibilities than the front-runners.

LEGANES COMES CLOSE AGAIN

Like their first match this season, Leganes’ five-man backline annoyed the lauded assault of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha at Butarque Stadium.

On the different finish, Barcelona struggled with the counterattacks led by Rabaseda.

Alejandro Balde left with an obvious leg downside within the first half. However his substitute, Gerard Martín, helped determine the match when he stole a ball and sparked the fast assault that completed with Sáenz’s personal purpose.

Flick stated that Balde “was not so good” however added that the staff must wait to see what Sunday’s medical examination of the participant decided to see if he would obtainable for the return leg in Dortmund.

Removed from rolling over, Leganes continued to threaten. Substitute Diego García sliced a shot simply by the far submit, and Íñigo Martínez needed to disrupt a great scoring likelihood by Munir El Haddadi in damage time.

Martínez stated his slide to strip the ball from the Leganes striker “looks like scoring a purpose, and even higher.” Leganes was left in nineteenth and two factors from security.

“We go away with our arms empty after having performed properly in opposition to a Barca that wasn’t as efficient as traditional,” Leganes defender Renato Tapia stated.

ESPANYOL CONTINUES TURNAROUND

Espanyol striker Roberto Fernández, who arrived on mortgage from Braga within the winter market, scored two targets to steer a 2-0 win at Celta Vigo.

Joan García, who leads the league in saves, added one other excellent cease to his assortment this marketing campaign when he stretched to palm a roller by Iago Aspas over the bar with the guests up 1-0.

Coach Manolo González has turned a modest Espanyol facet round with simply two losses in its final 12 league video games, a run that features a win over Madrid and a draw with Atletico Madrid. The win in Vigo let Espanyol transfer into 14th.

TWO MORE AWAY VICTORIES

Cyle Larin and Sergi Darder scored as Mallorca beat Actual Sociedad 2-0 in San Sebastian. Mallorca leapt over Sociedad into eighth as each combat for a European berth.

Las Palmas additionally acquired its first victory of the yr, a 3-1 win at Getafe.