C.D. Leganés were unable to win their LALIGA EA SPORTS matchday 4 fixture against Real Mallorca at Butarque (0-1). A solitary goal from Dani Rodríguez at the end of the first half gave the visitors the three points against a Lega side who suffered their first defeat of the season.
Leganés came out with up to seven changes to their line-up compared to last Wednesday's game in Valladolid, with Alti, Tapia, Brasanac, Raba, Óscar, Munir and Diego García coming into the line-up. Only Juan Soriano, Jorge Sáenz, Sergio González and Javi Hernández were back from the Zorrilla game.
The game started with a first scare for the Peñuelas goal with a header from Domenech in the 3rd minute that rebounded off the top of the crossbar. Lega responded with a shot from outside the area by Óscar in minute 9 that failed to find the back of the net. In the 22nd minute it was Mallorca again who had a chance in the boots of Japan's Asano, who found a safe Juan Soriano.
Dani Rodríguez, assisted by Muriqi, made the difference in the final stretch of the first half.
Lega tried to get forward with an active Óscar in the midfield, with Raba and Munir coming from the flanks trying to feed Diego. Again in the 27th minute Soriano had to intervene to prevent Muriqi's goal with a save that brought applause from the 10,500 spectators in the stands at Butarque. Lega stretched with two consecutive arrivals by Javi Hernandez on the left that could not find a finisher.
Mallorca took the lead in the 42nd minute through Dani Rodríguez, who finished off a Muriqi pass at the far post to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The visitors went in at the break with the advantage for the visitors.
Cruz and Diego tried their luck in the second half, but to no avail.
The second half started with three changes by Borja Jiménez, one of them, that of Tapia, due to concussion, which allowed an extra substitution for both teams. Neyou came on in his place, as did Franquesa and Juan Cruz in place of Raba and Munir. Cruz himself tried his luck in the 51st minute with a left-footed shot that didn't find the net, but encouraged the crowd in search of an equaliser.
In minute 56, new Blue and Whites' substitutions were made, with Rosier replacing Alti at right-back and Cissé replacing Óscar in midfield. Lega tried with fresh legs, but Mallorca were solid at the back and made it difficult for Borja Jiménez's men to play. In the 66th minute it was Miguel de la Fuente who came on in place of Javi Hernández in Lega's last change, looking for more attacking presence.
Diego had a chance with a header in the 75th minute from Neyou's cross, and Juan Cruz's attempts were unable to find a finisher in front of a solid Balearic defence. Lega's persistence was not rewarded this time, and Lega go into the international break with five points in the standings. Their next game will come on matchday five away to Real Betis.
