C.D. Leganés could not score in their visit to Villarreal C.F. at the Estadio de la Cerámica (3-0), in a match corresponding to the thirty-sixth round of LALIGA EA SPORTS. Ayoze, twice, and Pepé scored the goals for the locals in the first half.
Borja Jiménez made only one change to his lineup compared to the last matchday, with Javi Hernández returning to the eleven after serving his suspension against Espanyol, and Munir remaining on the bench as a starter. The player from Jerez played as a left-sided central defender, with Tapia moving to the center of the field alongside Neyou and Cissé, and Yan Diomande as left back.
A double by Ayoze and another goal by Pepé decided the result in the first half.
Lega started well, pressing high and generating the first arrivals of the match, against a Villarreal that was looking for quick attacks and had their initial options in the boots of Baena and Parejo. In minute 12, it was Cissé who had the chance after a good combination, but his left-footed shot went too wide. Raba, in minute 16, tried his luck with his right foot, but Luiz Junior deflected it to a corner. In minute 22, however, Villarreal took the lead with a shot by Pedraza that was poisoned after touching Ayoze, throwing Dmitrovic off his guard to make it 1-0.
In 32', Villarreal doubled their lead, again through Ayoze, who got in front of Dmitrovic after a good inside pass and beat him low to make it 2-0. Lega didn't despair, and once again had a good chance in the 40' after a great personal action by Raba. Shortly after, the Blue and Whites claimed a penalty for a fall by Diomande in the area that neither De Burgos Bengoetxea, on the pitch, nor Muñiz Ruiz, from the VAR, considered sufficient to signal a penalty. Villarreal then made it 3-0 in minute 44 through Pepé, which was the score at halftime.
Lega tried in the second half, but the scoreboard remained unchanged.
The second half started with no changes in Leganés, who sought to close the gap and get back into the game by switching to a four-man defense, with Tapia playing as a center back and Diomande as a winger in front of Javi Hernández. Dmitrovic saved from Yeremy in 61' with a great low hand, just before Borja Jiménez introduced four changes, with Sergio González, Brasanac, Munir and Miguel coming on in place of Rosier, Neyou, Raba and Diego García.
Munir tried in minute 67 after the umpteenth ride of Diomande on the left, but his left-footed shot went wide and Luiz Junior blocked. In minute 70, the last Blue and Whites' substitution came, with Óscar entering the match in place of Tapia. In minute 72, Jorge Sáenz headed to the crossbar from a corner kick taken by Óscar in another good option for Lega, who kept trying despite the score. In minute 86, Munir came close with a free kick, but Luiz Junior deflected it to a corner with a great intervention.
There was no time for more, leaving Leganés with 34 points in the standings with two games to go. The Pepineros will play their penultimate match on Sunday (19:00) at the Gran Canaria Stadium against U.D. Las Palmas.
