An Early Goal and a Golden Victory
In a crucial Matchday 37 La Liga clash, Leganés defeated UD Las Palmas 1-0 at the Gran Canaria Stadium, keeping their hopes of staying in Spain’s top flight alive. The lone goal, scored by Dani Raba in the 6th minute, was enough to secure three vital points in a tense and hopeful night for the pepineros.
With this result, Leganés heads into the final matchday still needing other results to avoid relegation, but with their mission accomplished: an away win after nine winless matches on the road. Meanwhile, already-relegated Las Palmas showed little fight and disappointed their fans, many of whom left the stadium before the final whistle.
Image by: marca.com
🏟️ First Half: Raba Opens the Scoring in VAR-Validated Goal
The match started with Las Palmas controlling possession, but it was Leganés who struck first. In the 6th minute, Juan Cruz delivered a cross from the left to Dani Raba, who appeared unmarked at the far post to head home. Initially, referee José María Sánchez Martínez disallowed the goal for offside, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned.
Key Moments & Bookings
- 14’: Munir El Haddadi suffered an injury and was replaced by Yan Diomande.
- 17’: Almost a second for Leganés! Munir (before being substituted) received the ball in the box, turned, and shot, but Scott McKenna made a miraculous block.
- 30’: Alberto Moleiro tried his luck from distance, but Dmitrović made a great save.
- 35’: Yellow card for Adrià Altimira (Leganés) for a rough foul on Álex Muñoz.
Leganés held onto their lead at halftime, while Las Palmas, despite 63% possession, failed to create clear chances.
🔁 Second Half: Leganés Holds Firm and Seals the Win
Las Palmas came out more aggressively after the break, but Leganés maintained their defensive discipline.
Decisive Moments
- 50’: Oliver McBurnie went down in the box after a challenge with Jorge Sáenz, but no penalty was given.
- 51’: A goal disallowed for Leganés due to Javi Hernández’s offside.
- 65’: Seydouba Cissé missed a golden chance! He was one-on-one but blasted his shot over.
In the end, the 1-0 scoreline held, and Leganés celebrated as if they had won a final.
📊 Impact on the La Liga Table
- Leganés (18th, 37 points): Still in the relegation zone but can escape if they beat Valladolid and Espanyol loses to Las Palmas on the final day.
- Las Palmas (19th, 32 points): Already relegated, ending a forgettable season.
🧠 Tactical: How Leganés Won
Leganés (4-4-2 Defensive Setup)
- Strategy: Defensive solidity and quick counterattacks.
- Strengths: Rock-solid defense (Jorge Sáenz & Nastasic were flawless) and rapid transitions.
- Weaknesses: Low possession (35%) and struggles in sustained attacking phases.
Las Palmas (4-4-2 Offensive Approach)
- Strategy: Possession dominance but lacked penetration.
- Strengths: Midfield control (Esugo & Loiodice dictated play).
- Weaknesses: Poor final-third efficiency and defensive fragility.
⭐ Man of the Match: Dani Raba
- 1 decisive goal
- 3 successful dribbles
- 2 key passes
- 88% pass accuracy
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📚 Match Facts & Stats
- Leganés ended a nine-game away winless streak with this victory.
- Las Palmas managed just 2 shots on target, highlighting their lack of creativity.
- Leganés’ last win at Gran Canaria was in 2019.
🗓️ Upcoming Fixtures
Leganés vs. Valladolid (Matchday 38)
- Date: May 26
- What’s at stake: A must-win to have any chance of survival.
Espanyol vs. Las Palmas (Matchday 38)
- Date: May 26
- What’s at stake: Leganés will be hoping Las Palmas do them a favor by beating Espanyol.
🔎A Night of Hope for Leganés
Leganés did their part now they need results elsewhere to survive. It was a hard-fought win, but one that shows the fighting spirit of a team refusing to go down. Meanwhile, Las Palmas ends a dismal season, with fans demanding changes.
The final matchday promises drama and emotion in the relegation battle!
News cover image by: laliga.com
