Leganés 0-1 FC Barcelona: Leaders pass tough test

FC Barcelona got away with three absolutely crucial points from an excruciatingly tough game this Saturday at the home of Leganés. The side currently in the relegation zone gave the Catalans no end of frights, and probably had the best of the chances, and in the end it was a goal by one of their players that split the sides – fortunately scored in his own net.

Hansi Flick was saying that these are the kind of games where leagues are won at lost, and it would seem he is very right. Barça now go seven points clear at the top of the table, with Real Madrid travelling to Alavés tomorrow Sunday.

Tough test

Leganés had already beaten Barça once this season, and at the Estadi Olimpic of all places, and at their home ground they clearly felt they could belie their lowly position in the league table and spring another surprise.

Barça may have played the more dominant football in the first half, but the big chances fell the way of the home side. And big chances they were.

Wojciech Szczesny produced a stunning block to prevent Adrià Alti from converting what looked a certain goal, and Raphinha managed to intercept what would have otherwise been a simple tap-in for Dani Raba.

Balde injured

Lacking the inspiration of recent games and struggling to find ways through the stubborn Leganés defence, the best of the Barça chances fell to Jules Kounde, but home stopper Marko Dmitrovic couldn’t be beaten.

To add to Barça’s concerns, an awkward movement by Alejandro Balde meant the full-back was forced to withdraw early.

Own goal fortune

Barça needed a little bit of luck and they got it when Jorge Sáenz put the ball in his own net. Raphinha was trying to pick out Robert Lewandowski, and the defender’s outstretched foot only served to put the ball exactly where he didn’t want it to go.

1-0 up, it could have been two moments later. Fermín López did brilliantly get himself into position to shoot, and it’s a shame the finish wasn’t quite as good.

It may have looked like the goal had collapsed Leganés but they soon rebuilt and Barça had to work tooth and nail to protect their lead, the offside flag saving the day when Raba neatly headed the ball past Szczesny, and Diego García coming frightening close with his first touch after coming on.

Iñigo saves the day

If Leganés always played as well as they seem to against Barça, there’s no way they’d be where they are in the table. Curiously, the closest Barça had come to scoring was with what would have been a second Jorge Sáenz own goal…

It was a feisty game and Barça just could not put it to bed. The three points were in the air right until the final minutes, when Iñigo Martinez’s tackle to rob Munir when the latter was clean through on goal was every bit as important as a goal would have been at the other end.

Defenders win league titles too, and this was a case in point. The final whistle blew and Barça are one step closer to the trophy.