Barcelona wanted a Jorge Saenz personal objective to edge Leganes 1-0 and transfer seven factors away from Real Madrid on the high of La Liga on Saturday. Second-placed champions Madrid face Alaves on Sunday and need to play catch-up after Hansi Flick’s facet scraped their solution to a slender however very important win on the street. The Catalan giants are combating for a possible quadruple this season and took one other small step in direction of the league title at Butarque stadium.
“The struggle and the mentality the group confirmed immediately was nice,” mentioned Flick, whose facet beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0 within the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
“(Madrid) have a match tomorrow however we’re solely taking a look at ourselves, three factors is sweet and we had an amazing week.”
Despite Barca’s show missing the type and hazard in entrance of objective they’ve proven for a lot of the season, the gamers celebrated vehemently on the finish.
“In the tip what’s necessary in these video games are three factors,” Barca defender Eric Garcia advised DAZN.
“I feel that is the kind of recreation the place the league is gained… we’re high of the desk, which is the place we need to be, and immediately we might prolong that distance a bit.”
Barcelona misplaced 1-0 at residence towards Leganes in December throughout a droop which they’ve rotated in 2025, now 24 consecutive matches unbeaten because the flip of the 12 months.
The Madrid minnows set as much as frustrate as they did within the first assembly, slowing the sport with tactical fouls and the occasional spot of time-wasting.
Despite Flick deciding on a robust facet Barcelona discovered it exhausting to create hazard and the hosts had the most effective probability of an unsightly first half.
Dani Raba broke free down the left, with Inigo Martinez struggling to maintain up, and he teed up Adria Altimira.
Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made a high-quality save to thwart the Spaniard, whose shot was too near the Polish veteran.
At the opposite finish a deflected Jules Kounde effort was batted out by Marko Dmitrovic, who was not examined additional within the first half.
Raba lashed a shot narrowly off course for Borja Jimenez’s facet and Barcelona took off defender Alejandro Balde earlier than the break as he appeared to endure a muscular damage.
“Balde isn’t so good… (however) I’ll say nothing and we are going to wait till tomorrow,” mentioned Flick.
‘As if it was a objective’
The coach despatched on Frenkie de Jong for Ronald Araujo at half-time, shifting Eric Garcia again into defence, and Barcelona quickly took the lead.
With Robert Lewandowski lurking behind him, Saenz deflected Raphinha’s low cross into his personal internet.
With Leganes pressured into opening up somewhat, Barcelona started to threaten extra continuously.
Fermin Lopez ought to have doubled Barcelona’s lead after displaying tenacity to struggle his method into the field, however scuffed his shot extensive.
La Liga’s high goalscorer Lewandowski directed a header narrowly extensive from one other looking out Raphinha cross, and the in any other case quiet teenage star Lamine Yamal pressured a save from Dmitrovic at his close to submit.
With 20 minutes to go Raba headed residence for Leganes however had strayed offside and the objective was disallowed.
Diego Garcia may need levelled however directed a shot extensive of Szczesny’s far submit when well-placed.
In stoppage time former Barca ahead Munir El Haddadi broke by way of on objective for Leganes however was foiled by an outstanding Martinez deal with which clinched his facet’s win.
“The final save (by Martinez) was unbelievable,” mentioned Flick. “Everyone celebrated this as if it was a objective.”
Leganes, nineteenth, are two factors from security after the defeat.
“It’s so robust… we go away with empty palms towards a Barca that, whereas it is true they attacked towards us, they weren’t as environment friendly as regular, and you allow with a bitter feeling as a result of we put in an amazing efficiency,” Leganes midfielder Renato Tapia advised DAZN.
“We can do it (keep up), and I feel immediately we confirmed it.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
