Barcelona eked out a 1-0 win after an personal aim 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 way of once more for Hasni Flick’s staff in assault – and protection.
Raphina’s harmful cross was was the web by Leganes defender Jorge Sáenz for the sport’s solely aim within the forty eighth minute. The Brazil ahead then confirmed hustle when he disrupted a promising go for Leganes’ high scorer, Daniel Rabaseda, late within the first half.
The hard-earned win prolonged Barcelona’s lead to seven factors over Real 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 games are where leagues are won,” Barcelona’s Éric García mentioned. “It was a night to put the pressure (on Madrid).” Leganes shocked Barcelona 1-0 in December, throughout a dip in type by the Catalan membership. But for the reason that begin of 2025, Barcelona has now gone 24 video games with out a loss and is within the working for a treble of titles together with the Copa del Rey, the place it has arrange a last towards Madrid.
“To win this match was very important,” Flick mentioned. “I am really proud about my team. What they are doing the last weeks and months is incredible.” Barcelona saved 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 probabilities than the front-runners.
LEGANES COMES CLOSE AGAIN
Like their first match this season, Leganes’ five-man backline pissed off the lauded assault of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha at Butarque Stadium.
At the opposite finish, Barcelona struggled with the counterattacks led by Rabaseda.
Alejandro Balde left with an obvious leg drawback within the first half. But his alternative, Gerard Martín, helped resolve the match when he stole a ball and sparked the short assault that completed with Sáenz’s personal aim.
Flick mentioned 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 accessible for the return leg in Dortmund.
Far from rolling over, Leganes continued to threaten. Substitute Diego García sliced a shot simply by the far put up, and Íñigo Martínez needed to disrupt a good scoring likelihood by Munir El Haddadi in damage time.
Martínez mentioned his slide to strip the ball from the Leganes striker “feels like scoring a goal, or even better.” Leganes was left in nineteenth and two factors from security.
“We leave with our hands empty after having played well against a Barca that wasn’t as effective as usual,” Leganes defender Renato Tapia mentioned.
ESPANYOL CONTINUES TURNAROUND
Espanyol striker Roberto Fernández, who arrived on mortgage from Braga within the winter market, scored two objectives to lead 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 Real 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 12 months, a 3-1 win at Getafe.
Published – April 13, 2025 09:58 am IST
