On Saturday, Barcelona defeated Leganes 1-0 and moved seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga,
thanks to an own goal from Jorge Saenz.
Second-placed champions Madrid face Alaves on Sunday and have to play catch-up after Hansi Flick’s side scraped
their way to a narrow but vital win on the road.
The Catalan giants are fighting for a potential quadruple this season and took another small step towards the league
title at Butarque stadium.
In December, Barcelona suffered a 1-0 home loss to Leganes, but they recovered in 2025 and are now 24 games
undefeated since the year began.
As in the first match, the Madrid minnows set up to frustrate by slowing down the game with tactical fouls and the
occasional moment of time-wasting.
Barcelona struggled to generate a threat, and the home team had the greatest chance in an unattractive first half,
even though Flick picked a formidable team.
Inigo Martinez was having trouble keeping up with Dani Raba as he broke free down the left and set Adria Altimira up.
Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made a fine save to thwart the Spaniard, whose shot was too close to the
Polish veteran.
At the other end, a deflected Jules Kounde effort was batted out by Marko Dmitrovic, who was not tested further in the first half.
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Raba gave Borja Jimenez’s team a shot that went just wide, and Barcelona substituted defender Alejandro Balde
before halftime because he seemed injured.
Eric Garcia returned to defence when Flick substituted Frenkie de Jong for Ronald Araujo at halftime, and Barcelona
quickly seized the lead.
Saenz deflected Raphinha’s low cross into his own net as Robert Lewandowski was just behind him.
Barcelona started to threaten more often once Leganes was compelled to open up a bit.
Fermin Lopez should have doubled Barcelona’s lead after showing tenacity to fight his way into the box but scuffed his shot wide.
La Liga’s top goalscorer Lewandowski directed a header narrowly wide from another searching Raphinha cross, and
the otherwise quiet teenage star Lamine Yamal forced a save from Dmitrovic at his near post.
With 20 minutes to go, Raba headed home for Leganes but had strayed offside, and the goal was disallowed.
Diego Garcia might have levelled but directed a shot wide of Szczesny’s far post when well-placed.
In stoppage time former Barca forward Munir El Haddadi broke through on goal for Leganes but was foiled by a superb Martinez tackle which clinched his side’s win.
Leganés, 19th, are two points from safety after the defeat.
