CD Leganés

Tie in Leganés to continue at the top of the table

In a tight match, a penalty scored by Raúl García briefly gave Athletic the lead but Óscar Rodríguez equalised with a free-kick two minutes later

Athletic Club keep their ‘win at home, draw away’ run going, after drawing 1-1 with Leganés in a tight match. Raúl García’s penalty put them ahead briefly, but Óscar Rodríguez equalized with a free-kick almost immediately. The Lions, who are still undefeated, sit at the top of the league, awaiting Valencia on Saturday.

The match was closely-contested, especially in the first half, with both teams pressing hard, Athletic trying to dominate and Leganés playing on the counter. In view of the current three-match week, Garitano freshened up the squad with five new faces, including Iago Herrerín, who brought off a great save from En-Nesyri in the 44th minute.

The Lions attempted to attack down Larrazabal’s wing, but they scarcely scared Juan Soriano, with the exception of a loose ball the home keeper left on the penalty spot. The pace of the game caused a number of inaccuracies.

At the beginning of the second half, Herrerín blocked a shot from Guido Carrillo after a Roque Mesa free-kick. An elaborated move from Athletic, ended up with a penalty from a foul by Bustinza on Larrazabal, which ignited Butarque and changed the game. Raúl García did not have mercy and, arrowing a shot to the top corner of the net, gave the lions the lead. It is his fourth goal so far this season.

With no time to celebrate the temporary victory, Óscar Rodríguez, a brilliant footballer, equalised with a free-kick. With a right-footed strike, Raúl García was about to make the score 1-2, but Awaziem deflected the ball away for a corner, and Dani García headed that corner off. Right after that, Williams shot Yuri’s pass straight into keeper Soriano’s hands. The lions looked for the winning goal, but the danger finished for both sides at that point.

MATCH DATA

CD Leganés: Juan Soriano, Marc Navarro, Bustinza, Omeruo, Awaziem, Kevin Rodrigues; Óscar Rodríguez, Rubén Pérez, Roque Mesa; En Nesyri and Guido Carrillo. Changes: Jose Arnaiz by Marc Navarro (71’), Braithwaite by Guido Carrillo (71’) and Recio by Roque Mesa (84’).

Athletic Club: Herrerín; Capa, Núñez, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Dani García, Beñat; Larrazabal, Raúl García, Córdoba; and Williams. Changes: Muniain by Córdoba (46’), Ibai by Larrazabal (78’) and Kodro by Williams (88’)

Goals:

59′ Raúl García (p.)
61′ Oscar Rodríguez

Referee: González González, from Castile and León