Victory in the home opener (1-0)

C.D. Leganés defeated C.D. Eldense at Ontime Butarque Stadium (1-0) in a match for Matchday 3 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION. A goal by Miguel Atienza in the 89th minute secured the three points for the Pepineros in their first home league game of the season.

Rubén Albés made two changes to Lega’s starting lineup compared to the last match in Oviedo: Luca Zidane made his first start in goal after making his debut at the Carlos Tartiere, and Rubén Peña replaced the injured Tejero on the left wing.

Soko and Zico had Leganés’ best chances in the first half

Soko had Leganés’ first chance in the 15th minute, following a steal in the opponent’s half and a low shot that Ramón Vila cleared with his foot. Eldense responded in the 19th minute with a shot by Carmona, which Luca saved with a great low stop. In the 22nd minute, it was Zico who made the stands gasp with a right-footed shot off an assist from Gharbi that went just wide of the net.

Albés’s men kept pressing with runs by Naim and Peña down the wings and Gharbi’s play between the lines, though in the 44th minute, Fidel had a chance for Eldense, with his shot coming close to Luca’s top corner. The first half ended in a scoreless tie.

Sancris made his debut in the second half, and Sule made his LALIGA debut

The second half began with no substitutions, as Eldense tried to create more chances on the blue-and-white goal against a Leganés side that couldn’t quite tip the balance in their favor. Just past the hour mark, Rubén Albés decided to make a triple substitution, bringing on Álex Sancris—making his debut for the Pepineros—Dani Rodríguez, and Álex Millán in place of Naim, Rubén Peña, and Soko, looking to inject some fresh energy into the team.

The substitutions paid off, and Lega went in search of a goal, relying primarily on Gharbi, who had a chance after a pass from Sancris, but his shot sailed over the bar. The more than 10,000 spectators in attendance for the debut at Ontime Butarque were cheering them on, and in the final ten minutes, Pulido and Sule replaced Lalo and Kechta.

Atienza, in the 89th minute, secured the victory for Lega off an assist from Sule

The Pepineros turned up the intensity, and their reward came in the 89th minute: Dani Rodríguez crossed it in from the left, Sule laid it off at the far post, and Miguel Atienza was there to tap the ball in and score the winning goal. It was the Madrid-born midfielder’s first goal of the season

Leganés defended their lead in stoppage time and secured their first home victory of the year—their second in a row—which puts Rubén Albés’s team at seven points after the first three matchdays. The “Pepineros” will play their next match this coming Friday (8:30 p.m.) in Gran Canaria against U.D. Las Palmas.