A Comeback of True Grit (2-1)

C.D. Leganés pulled off a crucial comeback at Ontime Butarque against Albacete Balompié (2-1) in a match for Matchday 35 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION. Álex Rubio put Albacete ahead, but Álex Millán and Juan Cruz scored the winning goals for Leganés in the second half.

Leganés fielded a lineup with five changes from their last match in Almería, with Leiva and Franquesa returning to the starting eleven at fullback, Duk and Juan Cruz on the wings, and Álex Millán leading the attack. The first chance of the match on this retro matchday—in which all teams wore special kits—came for Leganés in the 5th minute, following a long, intricate play that Diawara finished with a right-footed shot from the edge of the box that narrowly went wide.

Álex Rubio, following a rebound off a corner kick, put Albacete ahead in the first half

Leganés pressed in the opening minutes, primarily through Duk’s runs down the right flank, against an Albacete side that was organized defensively and looking to counterattack. The Pepineros dominated possession, trying to penetrate the opponent’s box, but failed to create any dangerous chances. In the 34th minute, the first goal nearly came on a header by Melero off a Cruz corner kick that the Albacete defense cleared off the line. Shortly after, Melero himself came close to scoring off another Cruz corner kick from the opposite side, drawing gasps from the stands.

In the 38th minute, however, Albacete took the lead through Álex Rubio, who capitalized on a rebound at the edge of the box following a corner to connect with a tight volley that was unstoppable for Juan Soriano, making it 0-1 in favor of the visitors. Lega tried to equalize before halftime, with a shot by Duk in the 43rd minute that Lizoain caught low. The visitors held on to their narrow lead going into the break.

Álex Millán and Juan Cruz turned the game around in the first twenty minutes of the second half

With no changes after the break, Lega equalized in the 47th minute through Álex Millán, who capitalized on a layoff from Juan Cruz following a cross by Duk to beat Lizoain first-time and level the match with his sixth league goal, his seventh of the season. The second goal nearly came in the 53rd minute on another cross from Cruz on the left that Melero headed diving, with the ball grazing the left post of the La Mancha goal.

In the 56th minute, Igor Oca made his first substitution, bringing on Óscar Plano for Cissé, who was leaving the field with an injury, with Melero dropping back to play alongside Diawara. In the 61st minute, it was Cruz who tried his luck with a left-footed volley that Lizoain caught low. In the 65th minute, the ‘No. 10’ was rewarded with a goal: Cruz collected a ball fought for by Millán in the box, turned, and fired a low left-footed shot across the goal to beat Lizoain, to the delight of the more than 10,700 spectators filling the stands at Ontime Butarque.

An important victory to pick up three points again and move to 42 points

Immediately afterward, Guirao came on for Melero to freshen up the midfield, as a Lega side went in search of a third goal to secure the win heading into the final stretch. Duk continued to drive down the right, and Plano and Cruz caused damage between the lines. In the 80th minute, Naim and Diego García replaced Cruz and Millán, who left the field to applause as the final minutes approached. Ignasi Miquel had a chance for the third goal following another set-piece play, but Lizoain made the save.

Lega, spurred on by the electric atmosphere in the stands, defended tooth and nail in stoppage time to secure the three points at home and return to winning ways. The Blue-and-Whites now sit on 42 points in the standings, and their next match will be on Friday (9:00 p.m.) away against U.D. Las Palmas.