C.D. Leganés achieved a historic victory in their visit to F.C. Barcelona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (0-1). A lone goal from Sergio González at the start of the game, from a corner kick by Óscar Rodríguez, gave Borja Jiménez's team the three points and their first away win of the season.
Leganés came out with three changes to their starting eleven compared to the last matchday: Alti, Jorge Sáenz and Munir came in for the suspended Rosier, Nastasic, who had been struggling during the week, and Diego García. The novelty was the presence of Tapia in the defensive line, forming a line of three central defenders alongside Sergio González and Jorge Sáenz.
Sergio González gave Lega the lead in the 3rd minute, and Dmitrovic appeared on three occasions to save the equaliser in the first half.
The game couldn't have got off to a better start for Los Pepineros, who had the first chance in the 2nd minute when Munir's one-on-one with Iñaki Peña turned the ball behind for a corner. From that corner, Óscar put the ball in and Sergio González appeared to head the ball into the net and make it 0-1 with his second goal of the season.
Dmitrovic appeared in the 10th minute to save Barça's first great chance from Lewandowski's boots with a save that prevented the equaliser. After the goal, the Pabellon players were tidy, with a lot of help in defence and trying to get forward on the counter with the speed of Miguel de la Fuente. In the 32nd minute, another save from Dmitrovic, who deflected Raphinha's shot with his fingers, only for the ball to crash against the crossbar.
And again in the 34th minute, the Serbian keeper saved a one-on-one from Lewandowski with his foot to keep Lega in front. In added time, Borja Jiménez was forced to make his first substitution, bringing on Darko Brasanac in place of the injured Renato Tapia. Lega went in at the break with a momentary victory.
Huge collective performance from the team to keep a clean sheet and achieve the first away win.
With no changes after the start of the second half, Alti tried his luck in the 53rd minute after a corner kick with a far right-footed shot that Iñaki Peña caught. In the 58th minute, Pepinero made a double substitution, with Nastasic and Diego García coming on in place of Munir and Miguel. Leganés continued to defend in an orderly fashion against the blaugranas' attacks, and Koundé's shot inside the area in the 78th minute was a good chance to make it 1-1.
In the 82nd minute, Dani Raba replaced Cissé in the last Blue and Whites' substitution. The Cantabrian came back from muscular problems to play the last part of the game, and played his part in the final moments, holding the ball up and generating a couple of transitions without finishing. Leganes held out until the very last action, Javi Hernandez's foul on Raphinha at the edge of the area, which the Brazilian shot high over the bar.
At the final whistle, the players, coaching staff and the more than a hundred Leganés fans who had travelled to Barcelona erupted in jubilation. For the first time in their history, Lega defeated the Culés away from home, achieving their first away win of the season and moving up to 18 points in the table.
Their next game, the last of an unforgettable 2024, comes on Sunday (18:30) at Butarque against Villarreal C.F.
