C.D. Leganés were unable to win in their visit to Real Zaragoza (1-0), in a match corresponding to the eighteenth matchday of LALIGA HYPERMOTION. Maikel Mesa, in the final stretch of the first half, scored the only goal of the match, which means that Leganés are still without a point after eight matchdays without losing.
Leganés took to the pitch at La Romareda with three changes to Borja Jiménez's line-up compared to the match against Racing de Ferrol: Iker Undabarrena, who returned to the starting eleven after serving a suspension, Chicco and Diego García replaced Arambarri, Portillo and Djouahra. As a novelty, the Blue and Whites, this Saturday in their third kit with the colours associated with Rare Diseases, started the match with a line of four defenders instead of the three centre-backs of recent matches.
Maikel Mesa, after a messy action, scored for Zaragoza in the first half.
The game started evenly, with both teams trying to reach the rival goal without success. In the 15th minute, the first shot for Los Pepineros came from Diego García, who headed in Miramón's cross, but it went high. Zaragoza responded in the 19th minute with a direct free kick from Toni Moya that failed to find the target. In the 25th minute, it was Maikel Mesa who had a dangerous run into the area, but his cross shot went just wide of Diego Conde's goal.
On the half-hour mark, another set piece from Lega saw Raba cross and the home goalkeeper made a fine save. However, it was Zaragoza who took the lead in the 39th minute: after a messy move in the box, the ball fell to Maikel Mesa, who scored to make it 1-0. The home side went in at the break with a slim lead.
No success in a second half in which there were no great chances.
The second half started with no changes, with Lega trying to level the score against a Zaragoza side that was solid and left no loopholes. On the hour mark, Borja Jiménez made his first change, bringing on Portillo in midfield in place of Chicco, looking for a reaction from the team.
In the 78th minute, another triple substitution for Lega, who were unable to put the pressure on Zaragoza despite the support of the eight hundred or so fans at La Romareda: Cissé, Djouahra and Ureña came on in place of Undabarrena, Neyou and Diego García. In the final stretch, Naim replaced Franquesa in a Leganés side that had the chance in extra time with a Raba action that was cleared by the home defence in extremis.
There was no time for more, and Leganés remained without a point eight games later, despite which they remain at the top of the table with 36 points. The next game for the Pepineros will come this Thursday (20:00) in the second round of the Copa del Rey at A Malata against Racing Club de Ferrol.
