Lega returns to Butarque with a victory (2-1)

C.D. Leganés achieved their first win on their return to the Primera División at Butarque. The pepineros beat U.D. Las Palmas (2-1), with goals from Juan Cruz and Franquesa in the second half. Sandro, in stoppage time, reduced the deficit for the yellows.

C.D. Leganés came out with two changes from the starting eleven that kicked off LALIGA in Pamplona, with Óscar, who was making his debut as a ‘pepinero’, and Raba coming on in place of Franquesa and Juan Cruz, who started this time on the bench. The duel began with pace, with a first shot from Sandro for Las Palmas and another from Miguel for Lega as the first attacking attempts.

Brasanac, who hit the post, had the best chance of the first half for Lega.

Miguel again had the chance in the 17th minute from Cisse's pass after a high steal, but the yellow defence deflected wide in extremis. Juan Soriano responded with a great save from a Moleiro shot that he deflected with great reflexes. Again the Andalusian goalkeeper responded with a great save from McBurnie in the 36th minute, bringing applause from the Butarque crowd, with more than 10,000 spectators in attendance despite the sweltering heat.

The clearest chance of the first half fell to Darko Brasanac, who, assisted by Óscar, struck his left-footed shot inside the area, but it crashed against the right-hand post of Cillessen's goal. And in stoppage time, Raba tried again with his left foot, but his shot went narrowly wide. With the score at 0-0, the half-time whistle blew.

Juan Cruz, with a great goal from outside the area, gave the Blue and Whites the lead.

The second half started with Lega attacking again, with Raba making Cillessen intervene in minute 48. In 53', De Burgos Bengoetxea awarded a penalty following a fall by Óscar inside the area: Raba took charge of the spot-kick, but Cillessen made a great save from the “10”.

Lega did not give up, and in the 61st minute they made their first two changes, bringing on Tapia and Juan Cruz in place of Brasanac and Raba. In the 64th minute it was Óscar who tried a free kick, but the ball went narrowly over. And in the 71st minute, Juan Cruz's insistence was to be rewarded: Juan Cruz's 25-yard drive into the top left corner of Cillessen's net made it 1-0 and sent the Butarque stands into a frenzy. It was the second goal for the ‘11’ in two games.

Franquesa made it 2-0, and Sandro pulled one back in stoppage time.

As the game entered the final period, Franquesa and Diego García were Borja Jiménez's third and fourth substitutions, coming on for Cissé and Miguel. Franquesa himself, three minutes after coming on, was to score the second of the match: a counter-attack led by Óscar, who waited for the right moment for the ‘15’ to arrive on the run, and Enric himself defined with his first shot to make it 2-0.

The last few minutes were still to give plenty to play for: firstly, for the debut of Alti, who replaced a standing ovation for Óscar to make his debut as a Pepinero. The long stoppage time (eight minutes) saw Las Palmas pull one back in the 93rd minute with a goal from Sandro, which brought a sense of unease back into the stands. But Lega defended their lead tooth and nail to secure their first win on their return to the Primera División at home.