C.D. Leganés were unable to score in their visit to leaders R.C.D. Espanyol (2-1). Miguel de la Fuente scored the goal for the pepineros, while Darder and Melamed, the latter after a clear offside by Embarba that was not signaled, were the authors of the goals.
Asier Garitano made three changes to the starting eleven compared to the one that played the previous match against C.E. Sabadell: Rodri Tarín replaced the injured Unai Bustinza, Gaku Shibasaki replaced Rubén Pardo in midfield, and Miguel de la Fuente replaced the suspended Borja Bastón up front.
Darder scored for Espanyol in the first action of the match.
The match could not have started any worse for Leganes' interests as, in the first minute, Espanyol took the lead thanks to a goal by Darder with a long-range shot. Leganés reacted and, in the next action, were about to equalize with a one-on-one from Arnaiz that Diego López saved. The next action came from Rubén Pérez with a hard shot from outside the area that the local goalkeeper repelled with difficulty.
In minute 18, the locals missed the chance to extend their lead with a penalty that De Tomás crashed against the crossbar, and in minute 26, it was Riesgo who saved a dangerous header from David López. The Pepineros tried to generate danger on the inside by pressing high and combining quickly: in minute 32, Gaku assisted Róber Ibáñez, whose shot went into the side netting. And in minute 35, Arnaiz finished off a cross from Javi Hernández that was rejected by the defense.
Leganés continued to insist, and in minute 40 they had another chance with the head of Sergio González, and in minute 43 with a close-range shot by Javi Hernández that was saved by Dídac in extremis. The score was 1-0 at halftime.
Miguel de la Fuente equalized shortly after the start of the second half.
Leganés continued to believe at the start of the second half, and in the 51st minute they found their reward: Arnaiz broke inside, shot, the ball was rejected by the home defense and Miguel took advantage of the dead ball to tap it into the back of the net: it was the first goal of the striker from Valladolid in LaLiga and his second of the season.
Espanyol responded with a chance from Melamed that went high. The pepineros responded in minute 68' with an action in which Miguel was on the verge of scoring against Diego López. In minute 71, it was Embarba who tried from distance, but he was met with a sensational intervention by Riesgo.
Melamed scored the definitive 2-1 in an action preceded by a clear offside by Embarba.
And, in the 73rd minute, Melamed put Espanyol ahead when he finished off a cross from the right, in a play that began with a clear offside by Embarba that was not flagged by the referee or the VAR after the review. Asier Garitano tried to give air to the attack in 75' with the entry of Kevin Bua and Sabin Merino for Róber Ibáñez and Miguel. Shortly after, Rosales and Juan Muñoz replaced Tarín and Arnaiz, and the last change was Brandon for Eraso. In minute 85, Leganés were on the verge of equalizing when Juan Muñoz's shot from outside the area crashed against Diego López's right post.
The pepineros tried until the end, but the equalizer did not come and Leganés remains in fourth position, with 57 points. Their next match will be on Monday 19 (19:00) against S.D. Ponferradina at Butarque.
