Comeback to start the year (1-3) 

C.D. Leganés achieved a crucial comeback at Carlos Belmonte against Albacete Balompié (1-3) in the 20th round of LALIGA HYPERMOTION. Puertas put Albacete ahead, but Álex Millán, Roberto López, and Melero turned the result around.

Igor Oca made four changes to the Leganés lineup from the last matchday of 2025: Rubén Peña, returning from injury, Marvel, Óscar Plano, and Álex Millán came into the team in place of Leiva, Lalo, who was suspended, Roberto López, and Diego García. Juan Cruz started on the right, with Duk on the left and Plano behind Millán as the most advanced players.

Puertas put Albacete ahead and Millán equalized for Lega in a back-and-forth first half

The match began with a first shot by Escriche for Albacete in the 2nd minute, which was well saved by Juan Soriano. Lega responded with a good run by Rubén Peña from the right, which Duk was close to finishing. In the 10th minute, a counterattack by the home side ended with a shot by Valverde that hit the right post. In the 18th minute, Puertas made it 1-0, heading in a cross from the left that was extended into the area to beat Juan Soriano.

Leganés couldn't respond to the home side's goal, trying unsuccessfully to get close to the opposition's goal. However, in the 28th minute, the equalizer arrived: good combination play by Leganés moving the ball from side to side, an inside pass from Cissé to Franquesa, and the Catalan full-back's assist was finished off inside the area by Álex Millán to make it 1-1 with his third league goal of the season.

Ignasi Miquel saved the 2-1 on the line after a set piece from Albacete, and Rubén Peña immediately tried his luck in a first half with chances for both sides. In the 40th minute, Juan Soriano made a saving foot to deny another attempt by Valverde, preventing the home side from scoring with a huge intervention. Two more chances for the home side before the break hit the woodwork, with the first half ending in a draw.

Roberto López put the Pepineros ahead with a great goal just after coming on

The second half began without any changes, with a great double chance for Álex Millán and Juan Cruz in the first minute, which Mariño saved at the first attempt and went over the bar at the second. The pace slowed down at the start of the second half, with Lega dominating possession and looking to combine their way into the opposition's area. Óscar Plano had a chance in the 62nd minute with a good left-footed shot inside the area, which Mariño saved at the last minute.

In the 64th minute, Igor Oca made his first substitution, bringing on Naim on the left wing to replace Duk, who had been struggling with discomfort since the first half. In the 69th minute, Franquesa made a good run from his own half, but his shot went too high. And in the 72nd minute, Naim made another good run but couldn't find a finisher in a Lega side looking to stage a comeback. Immediately afterwards, Pepinero made a double substitution, bringing on Roberto López and Diego García for Óscar Plano and Álex Millán.

The Blue and Whites' number 14 had barely been on the pitch for a minute when he received the ball with his back to goal in the final third, turned and fired an unstoppable left-footed shot past Mariño to make it 1-2. It was Roberto López's second goal of the season, putting Lega ahead to the delight of the 400 fans who had made up the visiting section at the Carlos Belmonte. Albacete hit the woodwork again in the 80th minute, with a header from Puertas that was repelled by the crossbar.

Melero sealed the deal in added time to give Lega the three points

In the 82nd minute, Igor Oca made his final substitutions, bringing on Leiva and Melero to replace Juan Cruz and Cissé. Lega not only defended, but also sought to seal the victory to avoid suffering in the final stretch, and this came in added time, after a cross from Rubén Peña was touched by Roberto López and Melero collected to beat Mariño and make it 1-3 with his first goal of the current league season.

Leganés made a great comeback to start the year, putting the team on 23 points in the standings. The next match will be on Sunday (2:00 p.m.), with the end of the first round at Ontime Butarque against Real Valladolid.