Barcelona extended their lead at the top to seven points with a 1-0 win at Leganés thanks to an own goal by defender Jorge Sáenz on Saturday that took their unbeaten LaLiga run to 12 matches Hansi Flick's side moved to 70 points above second-placed Real Madrid "For us today was a very difficult game but winning was very important I am proud of what my team is doing in the last few weeks and months," Barça boss Flick said "We need to work on our defence and attack But we've got three points and that's what's important," he added Barça also threatened when Jules Koundé beat Saenz to the ball before firing wide The deadlock was finally broken after the break when Barca took the lead after Raphinha's cross for Robert Lewandowski was inadvertently deflected into the net by Leganes defender Sáenz Lewandowski, chasing his 100th goal for the Catalans, later saw his header from another Raphinha's centre go wide before he was replaced by Ferran Torres after 67 minutes The hosts looked to have levelled when Dani Raba headed home Adria Altimira's cross but the goal was disallowed for offside Barcelona had a few more attempts, the clearest coming when Lamine Yamal combined with Torres but the former was unable to capitalise Leganes were desperate to get back into the game but the closest they came was a long-range effort from Diego García that missed the target The relegation-threatened side remain second from bottom on 28 points Barça, who are unbeaten in 24 games across all competitions, visit Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Tuesday having won the first game 4-0 They will then host Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Saturday Barcelona extended their lead at the top to seven points with a 1-0 win at Leganés thanks to an own goal by defender Jorge Sáenz on Saturday that took their unbeaten LaLiga run to 12 matches Hansi Flick's side moved to 70 points above second-placed Real Madrid \"For us today was a very difficult game but winning was very important I am proud of what my team is doing in the last few weeks and months,\" Barça boss Flick said \"We need to work on our defence and attack But we've got three points and that's what's important,\" he added Barça also threatened when Jules Koundé beat Saenz to the ball before firing wide The deadlock was finally broken after the break when Barca took the lead after Raphinha's cross for Robert Lewandowski was inadvertently deflected into the net by Leganes defender Sáenz Lewandowski, chasing his 100th goal for the Catalans, later saw his header from another Raphinha's centre go wide before he was replaced by Ferran Torres after 67 minutes Barcelona had a few more attempts, the clearest coming when Lamine Yamal combined with Torres but the former was unable to capitalise Leganes were desperate to get back into the game but the closest they came was a long-range effort from Diego García that missed the target Barça, who are unbeaten in 24 games across all competitions, visit Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Tuesday having won the first game 4-0 They will then host Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Saturday This article features Stats Insider's prediction and tips for the Villareal vs Leganes game Utilising trusted computer power and data, Stats Insider has simulated the outcome of Villareal vs Leganes 10,000 times Our proven predictive analytics model currently gives Villareal a 60.3% chance of winning The current Bet365 betting odds in Australia for this La Liga clash at Estadio de la Cerámica are shown here: Odds are correct at the time of publication and subject to change Bet365 currently has Villareal at $1.42 and Leganes at $7.00 Lastly, Bet365 has odds of $4.50 for a draw if you think both sides will be level after 90 minutes The over/under for total goals scored is set at 2.5 with Bet365 which has odds of $1.73 for the over and $2.10 for the under Stats Insider's Villareal vs Leganes best bets are based on world-class modelling and gambling expertise to help you place smarter bets with your chosen online bookie Betting on Leganes to win is the best option due to the 3.4% edge found when comparing our data-led probabilities to the betting odds Taking advantage of the edges seen on Stats Insider is crucial to achieving long-term profitability when punting on sports Despite the Over being more likely to hit in this game, Under 2.5 is our best bet because of the better odds ($2.10) that are available from Bet365 Stats Insider provides full coverage of the Villareal vs Leganes match on Thursday including data-driven predictions and live win probabilitiestips so bookmark this page for the latest betting tips before the Villareal vs Leganes game As always, see Stats Insider's Best Bets to get betting tips for every La Liga match as well as predictions for a wide range of other sports The La Liga match-up between Villareal and Leganes at Estadio de la Cerámica is scheduled to begin at 3:00am AEST on Thursday All dates and times mentioned in this article are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Our Villareal vs Leganes predictions have been made after running 10,000 data-driven simulations of the game, all curated by our team of skilled data scientists and analysts. We use the latest in predictive analytics technology and machine learning to ensure our La Liga tips are accurate and reliable giving you the confidence to make informed decisions If you choose to use our La Liga predictions for betting purposes, it's important to gamble responsibly and manage your finances effectively. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au Stats Insider is your go-to source for betting on the La Liga in Australia, with the latest La Liga betting news, tips for every La Liga game, and futures probabilities for the La Liga. Australia's leading predictive analytics website offers Australian sports fans innovative tools and content to enhance their enjoyment of major sporting events both domestically and internationally Our goal is to transform the sports fan experience by providing readily accessible data-driven content for sports enthusiasts like us © 2015-2025 Hypometer Technologies Pty Ltd (ABN 78 609 507 744) Proudly part of Cipher Sports Technology Group Joaquín Caparrós has named the full squad who will take part of Sunday's home match against CD Leganés The main addition is match is the return of Nemanja Gudelj who was unable to travel to Pamplona after serving a yellow card suspension after the red card he picked up the previous matchday was overturned the first-team coach will be able to count on both Isaac Romero and Djibril Sow who were absent from group training in several sessions during the week Caparrós continues to count on Ramón Martínez who are joined on this occasion by Oso and Lulo a left-back who made his debut last season in the Copa del Rey in Astorga could get his first minutes in LALIGA EA SPORTS although he has been called up to the first team previously if he plays he would make his official debut Teléfono 954 53 53 53Email sevillafc@sevillafc.com Estadio Ramón Sánchez-PizjuánC/ Sevilla Fútbol Club,s/n 41005 - Sevilla ShareSaveCommentBusinessSportsMoneyFC Barcelona Vs. Leganes Line Up: Flick Makes A Big DecisionByTom Sanderson Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Tom Sanderson is a Barcelona-based writer who covers Spanish football.Follow AuthorApr 12 04:07am EDTShareSaveCommentFC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will indeed make some rotations when his side travels to Leganes .. FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will indeed make some rotations when his side travels to Leganes in La Liga on Saturday night Barca nurses just a four-point advantage at the summit of the Spanish top flight which makes this fixture in Butarque a must-win Barca could then see Real Madrid beat Alaves on Sunday and cut the lead to just a single point with a Montjuic installment of El Clasico on the horizon on either May 10 or 11 Barca’s 4-0 first leg thrashing of last year’s Champions League runners-up which lost to Madrid at Wembley means that it has some breathing room in a quarterfinal decider on German soil in a few days “Before each game we consider the next one to be the most important Tomorrow we play away from home against an opponent who defends very well and it is important that we always maintain the same mentality as if it were a Champions League match It’s important to stay mentally strong," he said As for whether he will make rotations in Leganes Flick stated: “As a coach I don’t confirm anything We have to take into account that we have to make changes because there are many games It's important to give players some rest from time to time.” Cubarsi keeps his place to partner the Uruguayan in central defense Flick doesn’t see it necessary to rest either Pedri or Frenkie de Jong in the double pivot but Ferran replaces Raphinha on the left wing while Gavi takes Fermin Lopez’s CAM berth Lamine Yamal could arguably do with a rest more than most but he continues on the right wing as does Robert Lewandowski as a lone striker How to Watch Sevilla FC vs. CD Leganes: Live Stream, TV Channel, Start Time | 5/4/2025Data SkriveSevilla FC and CD Leganes play on Sunday at 10:15 AM ET. It'll be the second matchup of the LaLiga season between these clubs, with Leganes winning the first 1-0. The match will stream on ESPN+ Sevilla lost on April 24 against CA Osasuna by the score of 1-0 Sevilla took three more shots in the match Leganes drew 1-1 at home with Girona FC in its most recent match on April 24 Watch live sports and more without cable on ESPN+. Click here to watch LaLiga action Leganes key playersLeganes' Daniel Raba has seven goals and four assists.Juan Cruz is another important player for Leganes, with four goals and three assists.Oscar Rodriguez has provided one goal and four assists.Valentin Rosier has provided one goal and three assists.To watch live sports and more without cable, head to ESPN+. Click here to watch LaLiga action Braça should make light-work of a Leganés side that's languishing in 18th with just one win from their last 11 matches in all competitions Barcelona mustn't overlook their rivals considering they lost to them for the first time ever at home in the reverse fixture Hansi Flick could continue to rotate his squad as he continues to manage the minutes of some of his key players through the most important part of the season. Despite the lopsided victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals Flick might not want to take any chances for the return leg at Signal Iduna Park GK: Wojciech Szczęsny—Barcelona's unbeaten run began once Szczęsny took the starting job between the sticks RB: Jules Koundé—The Frenchman has blossomed into one of the world's elite right backs CB: Ronald Araújo—The Uruguay international will captain the team CB: Iñigo Martínez—The veteran continues to be a perfect fit for Flick's high defensive line LB: Alejandro Balde—Balde is still looking for his first La Liga goal of the season CM: Eric García—The former Manchester City man has developed into a holding midfielder under Flick CM: Pedri—Barça's midfield magician will look to get his first league assist since mid-March RW: Lamine Yamal—Fresh off making Champions League history Yamal will look to continue adding to his league leading 11 assists Dortmund which means Gavi could get a chance to start in La Liga LW: Raphinha—The Brazilian hasn't scored in his last five La Liga appearances ST: Ferran Torres—Torres has five goal involvements in his last four La Liga appearances ROBERTO CASILLASRoberto Casillas is a Sports Illustrated Soccer freelance writer covering Liga MX, the Mexican National Team & Latin American players in Europe. He is a die hard Cruz Azul and Chelsea fan. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Lamine Yamal (L) of FC Barcelona vies with Javi Hernandez of CD Leganes during the Spanish league (La Liga) football match between FC Barcelona and CD Leganes at Municipal de Butarque Stadium Raphinha (R) of FC Barcelona vies with Sergio Gonzalez of CD Leganes during the Spanish league (La Liga) football match between FC Barcelona and CD Leganes at Municipal de Butarque Stadium Lamine Yamal (L) of FC Barcelona vies with Oscar Rodriguez (bottom) of CD Leganes during the Spanish league (La Liga) football match between FC Barcelona and CD Leganes at Municipal de Butarque Stadium Inigo Martinez (R) of FC Barcelona vies with Munir El Haddadi of CD Leganes during the Spanish league (La Liga) football match between FC Barcelona and CD Leganes at Municipal de Butarque Stadium Players of FC Barcelona celebrate after Leganes' Jorge Saenz scored an own goal during the Spanish league (La Liga) football match between FC Barcelona and CD Leganes at Municipal de Butarque Stadium Raphinha (R) of FC Barcelona vies with Neyou of CD Leganes during the Spanish league (La Liga) football match between FC Barcelona and CD Leganes at Municipal de Butarque Stadium Fermin Lopez (L) of FC Barcelona vies with Javi Hernandez of CD Leganes during the Spanish league (La Liga) football match between FC Barcelona and CD Leganes at Municipal de Butarque Stadium Real Madrid are still alive in the race for La Liga despite being made to suffer again during a narrow 3-2 win against Leganes Defensive frailty unleashed the wrath of the Bernabeu faithful during the match against the south Madrid team The crowd whistled at half-time and at the end of the game But another superb performance from Kylian Mbappe — who scored a brace — led Real Madrid to victory with Jude Bellingham picking up the other goal There was also controversy as Leganes were annoyed by some of the refereeing decisions including the foul that led to Madrid’s penalty that gave them the lead but lacked balance and that’s why we conceded the two goals They were grey situations in which the referee decided that way And we could have managed the advantage better,” Ancelotti said after the match The Athletic’s Guillermo Rai was at the game and brings you the key talking points… The 26-year-old has completely forgotten the initial doubts over his form and now it seems his position on the pitch doesn’t even matter Mbappe was on the receiving end of most of Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler’s inside passes The Leganes back line didn’t let him turn and tried to make it uncomfortable but the chances started to come with only the reactions of Leganes goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic keeping him in check After a penalty was awarded to Madrid in the 32nd minute, Mbappe demonstrated his new-found confidence — and lifted the Bernabeu — by scoring a deft Panenka-style chip remain anonymous to protect relationships — told The Athletic after the game that they think his adaptation to the team could be complete the Frenchman’s camp understands it when he performs poorly they are generally happy and reassured by how the media have treated them Despite rumours of a cold or distant relationship with Vinicius Junior the same sources close to Mbappe speak of the Brazilian with appreciation — and the players shared an embrace after the Frenchman’s winning goal from a free kick in the 76th minute It was not just the goals that showed Mbappe has found his rhythm His superb performance also featured five shots on target three completed dribbles and six duels won the Madrid striker has scored 12 goals and is the division’s second-top scorer with 22 goals He has adapted very well and now he is making a difference That’s what we want from him,” Ancelotti said 12 – Players with most goals in @LaLigaEN in calendar year 2025: BOOM. 🐢 pic.twitter.com/7RH8Jjphwx — OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 29, 2025 Mbappe’s double also took him to 33 goals from 45 games in all competitions drawing him level with the debut season of his boyhood idol Mbappe is only four goals from levelling the club record for a debut season held by Fernando Sanudo (1934-35) and Ivan Zamorano (1992-93) “Having the same goals as Cristiano is always good we know what he represents for Madrid and for me he gives me a lot of advice,” Mbappe said after the match with the domestic title and the Champions League still up for grabs Mbappe settled the game after Fran Garcia set him up from a free kick The 26-year-old made his way around the pitch to the bench to dedicate the goal to goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis “We’ve been working on it with the staff for days I celebrated the free-kick with Llopis because the goal is everyone’s business I asked to take it and it went well,” Mbappe said “He tried it yesterday and it went very well he’s very effective at it,” added Ancelotti Yet, in a broader context, the goal was a surprise; the stats will say it was the first time Mbappe had scored from a free kick in his career (Opta defines such set-piece routines as free-kick goals, even if other players are involved before the shot). As Sofascore details the Frenchman had previously attempted 17 without success the coaching staff had selected Rodrygo as the main free-kick taker who has played more than initially expected have tried from time to time at Ancelotti’s request And the future is even brighter in this area with assistant coach Francesco Mauri leading the set pieces With David Alaba’s return from injury, the team has another specialist — and if Trent Alexander-Arnold ends up joining the club the coaching staff will see him as a key player from free kicks and corners 🎯 @KMbappe 🎯 pic.twitter.com/XEEphkwwvy — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 29, 2025 Before the game, sources at Valdebebas confirmed they are aware of the stats published by The Athletic that show the club has made the fewest substitutions in La Liga They believe Ancelotti has only 12 truly reliable players which does not tarnish his overall good work but may create doubts in the confidence of the substitutes The team looked more defensively robust by fielding five midfielders: Modric But the reality is that Madrid continued to be vulnerable Leganes surprised the home side with a counter-attack Madrid suffered on both flanks and before half-time Leganes took advantage of the space behind the full-backs for Dani Raba to make it 2-1 Raul Asencio could have cut out the cross but it all stemmed from a huge amount of space around Lucas Vazquez Madrid have already conceded more league goals this season (29) than last season (26) Guillermo began his career covering Real Madrid and the sports industry for Diario AS. He later moved to London and became AS and Cadena Ser correspondent. He has since returned to Madrid and joins us at The Athletic where he will deliver Real Madrid news, interviews, stories, and more. Follow Guillermo on Twitter @GuillermoRai_ Master in mgmt, methology and Football Analytics CD Leganés are enjoying their return to LALIGA EA SPORTS After winning last season’s LALIGA HYPERMOTION title the club from the south of Madrid were back in Spanish football’s top tier for the first time in four years and with the primary objectiveMatchdayding relegation Sitting 15th and three points above the drop zone Los Pepineros have done a decent job so far and they have two truly memorable wins to their name.  CD Leganés have won just five league games in total two of them have been against FC Barcelona and against Atlético de Madrid each of whom led the standings at the time That makes Lega the only team to have defeated the LALIGA EA SPORTS leaders twice this season.  Their win against Barça came in Matchday 17 and on the road when Sergio González scored in the fourth minute of the game at the Estadi Olímpic before a heroic defensive effort allowed Lega to hold on for the 1-0 win Los Pepineros overcame Atlético de Madrid 1-0 at home it was four minutes into the second half when Matija Nastasić headed in from a corner combined with a bit of luck via a missed Antoine Griezmann penalty allowed Borja Jiménez’s side to cash in all three points.  This victory ended Atlético de Madrid’s impressive winning streak as Diego Simeone’s men entered this matchday with 16 wins in a row across all competitions they couldn’t take even a point away from the Estadio Butarque which was packed full to watch CD Leganés claim their second major scalp of the season.  In both of their giant-killing wins this season the stats show that CD Leganés did suffer the Catalan side had 20 shots to the newly promoted outfit’s six In the CD Leganés vs Atlético de Madrid game the numbers were similar as the visitors had 19 shots to the home side’s nine with 2.42 xG compared to Lega’s 0.41 the CD Leganés players dug deep and produced important defensive moments when they needed to especially their veteran goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović who has won not one but two Save of the Month prizes this LALIGA EA SPORTS season.  If CD Leganés can keep challenging the best teams in the country they’ll feel confident about staying up and also about their chances in the Copa del Rey where they’ve reached the quarter-finals by winning 3-2 away at LALIGA HYPERMOTION leaders UD Almería last Wednesday.  coach Borja Jiménez reflected on the team’s impressive results in LALIGA EA SPORTS and in the Copa del Rey but urged his players to keep their feet on the ground He told the press: “We should enjoy this as we’ve beaten two top teams in Atlético de Madrid and UD Almería this week The players have shown they can beat anyone we just defeated a side that had won 16 in a row This is a long season and we could be in a very different situation in two weeks’ time after we beat Barça we then lost to Villarreal CF It now remains to be seen how CD Leganés do against the other teams in the competition and in their matches against their direct rivals in the relegation battle they haven’t defeated any of the five teams currently below them in the table it’s good news for CD Leganés that they have another giant-killing opportunity ahead of them next weekend when they go away to Bilbao to take on fourth-placed Athletic Club in Matchday 21.   Time to turn attention back to LaLiga as the domestic competition heads towards its climax Barça travel to Madrid to play Leganés and a win would reinforce the lead at the top of the table and strike off another game to boot The match kicks off at 9.00pm CEST on April 12 and this guide should help you work out what time that will be in your part of the world If you are unable to watch for whatever reason, or if you wish to complement your viewing with second screen info, don’t forget that we have full coverage of the game, including the build-up live from the stadium and post-match reactions in our Match Center right here on the official website Here's a map showing selected kick-off times around the world with a link to download it should you prefer: And not forgetting the complete coverage available on our official social networks: * Please note that we list the channels that hold the rights to show games in the 2024/25 season here, but we cannot guarantee that they will be televising this particular game, or that the rights have not been transferred to another broadcaster. Please check local TV listings to be sure. Canada (Vancouver 12.00pm, Montreal 3.00pm)TSN (English), RDS (French) USA (Los Angeles 12.00pm, New York 3.00pm)ESPN Central America and Dominican Republic (Costa Rica 1.00pm, Panama 2.00pm, Dominican Republic 3.00pm)Sky (plus Sportsmax in Dom Rep) Caribbean (Jamaica 2.00pm, Bahamas 3.00pm)Sportsmax (plus ESPN and Star+ in certain countries and ATV in Suriname) French Caribbean (Martinique 3.00pm, French Guiana 4.00pm)Bein Spanish speaking South America (Peru, Colombia 2.00pm, Venezuela, Chile 3.00pm, Argentina, Uruguay 4.00pm)ESPN, Star+, DirecTV (plus IVC in Venezuela,Tigo in Bolivia) United Kingdom and Ireland (8.00pm)Viaplay Germany, Austria and Italy (9.00pm)DAZN (and Sky Sports Bar in Italy) Balkan Republics (9.00pm)Arena (and Artmotion in Kosovo) Baltic Republics and Belarus (10.00pm)Setanta Caucasus Region (11.00pm)Setanta (plus TV Net and Real TV in Azerbaijan) North Africa (Morocco 7.00pm, Libya, Egypt 9.00pm)Bein Sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal, Ghana 7.00pm, Nigeria, Cameroon 8.00pm, South Africa, Zambia 9.00pm, Ethiopia 10.00pm)Super Sport (English and local languages) Canal + Sport (French), Zap (Portuguese) Arab countries and Iran (Mecca 10.00pm, Iran 10.30pm)Bein Central Asian republics (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan 12.00am)Setanta Indian Subcontinent (Afghanistan 11.30pm April 12, Pakistan 12.00am, India 12.30am, Bangladesh 1.00am)Voot, MTV (plus Sports 18 in India) Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia 2.00am, Philippines 3.00am)Bein, La Liga TV (plus CTN in Cambodia, and Setanta in Philippines) Australia (Perth 3.00am, Sydney 5.00am)Optus Real have 63 points from 29 matches along with Barca, who host Girona on Sunday. Third-placed Atletico Madrid dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Espanyol earlier on Saturday and are now six points off the pace with 57 After the international break it's always difficult," Mbappé told RMTV The hosts made a dominant start and opened the scoring after 32 minutes when Mbappé coolly chipped in a penalty, awarded after Óscar Rodríguez brought down Arda Güler Real midfielder Jude Bellingham brought the scores level two minutes after the break sliding the ball into the net after a rebound off the crossbar Mbappé then bagged the winner with a brilliant curled free kick in the 76th minute for his second Then we didn't play well for 20 minutes and conceded two goals," said Mbappé "But we know that if we play well we'll score and in the second half we scored two goals "We worked on [the set piece] a few weeks ago with the staff I asked the others to let me shoot and it worked out well." Leganes pushed for an equaliser but fell to a third consecutive defeat to sit 18th on 27 points level with Alaves who are one place higher in the safety zone on goal difference We leave with our heads held high because we were fighting until the end to score here," Leganes striker Garcia said it was down to the details that they took it We played a very serious game and now we have to think about next week." Real have 63 points from 29 matches along with Barca, who host Girona on Sunday. Third-placed Atletico Madrid dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Espanyol earlier on Saturday and are now six points off the pace with 57 After the international break it's always difficult,\" Mbappé told RMTV The hosts made a dominant start and opened the scoring after 32 minutes when Mbappé coolly chipped in a penalty, awarded after Óscar Rodríguez brought down Arda Güler Real midfielder Jude Bellingham brought the scores level two minutes after the break, sliding the ball into the net after a rebound off the crossbar. Mbappé then bagged the winner with a brilliant curled free kick in the 76th minute for his second. \"We know what we always have to do: win. We started well, in the opposition half, and we scored a goal. Then we didn't play well for 20 minutes and conceded two goals,\" said Mbappé. \"But we know that if we play well we'll score and in the second half we scored two goals. We won the game and we're very happy. \"We worked on [the set piece] a few weeks ago with the staff. I knew I could shoot this way, I saw the space. I asked the others to let me shoot and it worked out well.\" Leganes pushed for an equaliser but fell to a third consecutive defeat to sit 18th on 27 points, level with Alaves who are one place higher in the safety zone on goal difference. \"We have done a tremendous job. We leave with our heads held high because we were fighting until the end to score here,\" Leganes striker Garcia said. \"Ultimately, it was down to the details that they took it. We played a very serious game and now we have to think about next week.\" Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker A deflected strike from Cruz in the 59th minute equalised the match but substitute Garcia scored the winner for Real in the 93rd minute, netting a towering header from a Brahim Diaz cross Ahead of Saturday's LaLiga derby against second-placed Atletico Madrid and next-week's Champions League playoff clash at Manchester City Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti decided to rest several key starters such as Kylian Mbappe Missing defensive stalwart Dani Cavajal for the season with a torn ACL and their three top centre-backs Eder Militao Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba also injured Ancelotti gave 20-year-old Jacobo Ramon his first senior start alongside fellow academy player Raul Asencio Madrid's young defenders struggled early on and allowed Leganes to create great chances through Diego Garcia and Oscar Rodriguez who forced Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin to make two stunning saves to avoid the home side's opening goal in the first and fourth minutes But Madrid slowly started to take control of proceedings with Brazil teenager Endrick a constant menace up-front wasting a good opportunity in the 13th minute Modric opened the scoring for Real in the 17th minute netting a tidy finish from just inside the box and Endrick fired a rebound from close-range in the 25th a mistake by Ramon in the 39th minute gifted Leganes a penalty Cruz stepped up to score from the spot with a low strike to the left that was just out of Lunin's reach Ancelotti brought Vinicius Junior off the bench after the break and the Brazilian missed an absolute sitter from close range before Endrick also wasted another great opportunity Cruz made it 2-2 when his shot from deflected off defender Ferland Mendy and wrongfooted the goalkeeper Lunin who watched on helplessly as the ball slowly crossed the goal-line Just when it seemed like the contest would be heading into extra-time Diaz made a run up the right channel and crossed to Garcia who scored his first senior goal for Madrid to send them into the semis A stoppage-time goal by 20-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia earned Real Madrid a hard-fought 3-2 win over lowly local rivals Leganes in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Wednesday A deflected strike from Cruz in the 59th minute equalised the match but substitute Garcia scored the winner for Real in the 93rd minute, netting a towering header from a Brahim Diaz cross keeping the defending Spanish champions firmly in the La Liga title race Real Madrid returned from the international break with a match against relegation-candidate, Leganés. With the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals coming in just two days Carlo Ancelotti opted to keep a few of his best players His selections paid off when 20-year-old Arda Güler won his side a penalty that Mbappé buried in the 32nd minute Diego García found an equalizer for the visitors Much to the dismay of the sea of white shirts at the Santiago Bernabéu Leganés then took the lead on the brink of halftime Real Madrid went down the tunnel trailing 1–2 as a chorus of whistles sounded from the home crowd The hosts started the second half with their sights set on goal and Jude Bellingham brought Real Madrid level in the 47th minute The England international pounced on a rebound from a few yards out and calmly found the back of the net to get his side back into the game The Frenchman scored a brilliant free kick in the 76th minute to secure all three points for the defending Spanish champions Mbappé has now scored 33 goals this season across all competitions matching Cristiano Ronaldo's total in his debut season in Madrid Check out the player ratings from Real Madrid's victory below AMANDA LANGELLAmanda Langell is a Sports Illustrated Soccer freelance writer covering the European game and international competitions. Location: Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in Seville Sevilla (9-10-14) welcomes Leganes (6-12-15) at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in Seville Sevilla are priced at -275 while the Pepineros are at +220 The starting goalkeepers are Orjan Nyland for Sevilla and Marko Dmitrovic for Leganes Sevilla has a total of 81 saves and are the owners of a save percentage of 64.8% this season Their goal differential is currently at -9 with the help of 35 goals tallied and also 44 goals given up the squad has put together an average of 1.12 pts per match (37 pts) and they also rank 57th in Big 5 soccer with 27 assists The Palanganas sit at 73rd in expected goals having 34.4 and their expected goals against are coming in at 42.3 Sevilla has 85 yellow cards on the campaign and also 6 red cards Sevilla FC has relinquished 44 goals while allowing 1.33 G/90 and their opponents have accumulated 125 shots on target on them which has them sitting at a percentage of 27.3% over the course of the season Get all of our Soccer Expert Picks Leganes has compiled 30 goals and their xG on the season is currently at 29.2 Their goals against/90 min is at 1.48 with 104 saves the Pepineros have a save % of 67.3% (150 SoT against) and they also have a rank of 82nd among European teams with 30 pts Leganés has a rank of 66th in relation to goals surrendered with 49 and their difference in goals is coming in at -19 The Pepineros have recorded a shut out percentage of 27.3% on the year and also 72 yellow card cautions The Pepineros sport an average of 0.9 pts per contest while amassing 21 assists and 6 red cards The man who is expected to protect the net for Sevilla will be Orjan Nyland Nyland has been on the pitch for a total of 6,755 minutes and has 215 stops so far in his pro soccer career His goals against per 90 mins is 1.45 (109 goals given up) and he holds a save percentage of 66.8% The keeper from Norway has seen 322 shots attempted at him in 74 starts Nyland (17-25-32 record in his career) has accumulated 14 shutouts which has earned him a 18.6%% shutout percentage Marko Dmitrovic will reside in front of the goal for Leganés Dmitrovic has allowed 264 goals and has racked up 469 saves in 189 starting assignments Dmitrovic has totaled 53 shutouts and has seen 728 shots against him in 17,079 minutes throughout his career He is the owner of a save percentage of 64.4% and his clean sheet rate is currently at 27.9%% He has surrendered 1.39 goals per 90 mins and he has earned a mark of 54-52-83 Juanlu Sanchez is a member of the team who could help decide the outcome for Sevilla He has totaled 11 assists while accumulating 25 pts during his pro soccer career The midfielder hailing from Spain has racked up 7 goals in 6,032 mins played Sanchez has started 66 matchups in his career and accounts for 0.10 goals per 90 mins Leganés features an attacker in Dani Raba The forward hailing from Spain has 9,694 minutes while he has scored 31 goals He averages 0.29 goals per 90 and has had a starting assignment in 121 outings in his career He has accumulated 88 points in his career and has assisted on a goal 26 times Who will win tonight's soccer game ATS Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Leganes (-275) Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here Get all of Today's Free Soccer Picks Get all of Today's Expert Soccer Picks Real Madrid are back at the Santiago Bernabéu to take on 18th-place Leganés putting Hansi Flick's men back in sole possession of first place Carlo Ancelotti will have most of his strongest players available from the opening whistle Real Madrid will only be without the injured Ferland Mendy is expected to sit out of the clash due to overload Here's what Real Madrid's XI could look like against Leganés on Mar GK: Andriy Lunin—The Ukrainian gets the nod between the posts while Courtois recovers from a minor issue RB: Lucas Vázquez—Vázquez starts on the right flank freeing up Fede Valverde to return to the midfield CB: Raúl Asencio—Asencio might not have logged any minutes for Spain during the international break CB: Antonio Rüdiger—The Germany international will hope to lead Real Madrid to their first clean sheet in over a month LB: Fran García—Mendy is still sidelined with a hamstring injury DM: Eduardo Camavinga—Aurélien Tchouaméni played over 210 minutes for France during the international break leaving the door open for Camavinga to start in his place DM: Fede Valverde—Although Valverde played well at right back Real Madrid are at their best when he is in the midfield if Luka Modrić takes Valverde's spot in the lineup to give the Uruguayan some extra rest RW: Rodrygo—Rodrygo will be happy to be back in Spain after two lackluster outings for Brazil AM: Jude Bellingham—The 21-year-old is Real Madrid's best playmaker and has developed great chemistry with Mbappé in the attack LW: Vinícius Júnior—The winger finally broke his goal-drought for Brazil and will look to translate his form to La Liga where he has found the back of the net just 10 times this season ST: Kylian Mbappé—The Frenchman is just two goals away from matching Cristiano Ronaldo's total for his debut season with Real Madrid heads the ball to score his side’s third goal during a Spanish Copa del Rey quarter-final soccer match between CD Leganes and Real Madrid at Butarque stadium celebrates with teammate Brahim Diaz after scoring their side’s third goal during a Spanish Copa del Rey Real Madrid’s Luka Modric celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Spanish Copa del Rey celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Spanish Copa del Rey Real Madrid’s Endrick celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during a Spanish Copa del Rey shoots to score his side’s second goal past Leganes’ goalkeeper Juan Soriano during a Spanish Copa del Rey shoots a penalty kick to score his side’s first goal past Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Andriy Lunin during a Spanish Copa del Rey celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during a Spanish Copa del Rey fights for the ball with Leganes’ Juan Cruz during a Spanish Copa del Rey heads the ball to score his side’s third goal past Leganes’ goalkeeper Juan Soriano Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos runs with the ball during a Spanish Copa del Rey MADRID (AP) — Gonzalo García scored in stoppage time as Real Madrid avoided an upset by defeating Leganes 3-2 to reach the semifinals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday Madrid had taken a two-goal lead at halftime with Luka Modric and Endrick before the hosts rallied to even the match in the second half a striker who usually plays with Madrid’s “B” team sealed the victory with a header three minutes into stoppage time after a cross by Brahim Díaz It has been a dream since I was a child and since I joined the youth teams I’m happy to have scored the goal that gave us a place in the semifinals,” García said “It was a perfect cross by Brahim and the ball went in by itself.” Another setback would have been troublesome for Madrid after it lost 1-0 at Espanyol in the Spanish league on Saturday for its second defeat in 15 matches across all competitions Madrid had needed extra time to eliminate Celta Vigo at home in the round of 16 of the Copa last month “We suffered but we are in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said “We have to be satisfied with the outcome.” Modric opened the scoring with a strike from close range in the 18th and Endrick doubled the lead after picking up a loose ball inside the area in the 25th The hosts rallied with Juan Cruz converting a penalty kick in the 39th and finding the net with a shot that deflected on a defender in the 59th Madrid nearly moved ahead again when Díaz’s flick over the goalkeeper struck the crossbar in the 75th In the other two quarterfinals on Thursday it will be Real Sociedad hosting Osasuna and Barcelona playing at Valencia Madrid was depleted in defense because of recent injuries to Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal had already been out with long-term ailments Ancelotti used youngsters Jacobo Ramón and Raúl Asencio as the central defenders and improvised midfielder Federico Valverde in the right back position Valverde picked up his 200th win in 295 matches with Madrid Ancelotti praised the youth-squad players who came through for the main team “The youngsters have been doing a very good job,” Ancelotti said “They lack experience but have been doing very well Ancelotti rested some regular starters ahead of the Spanish league derby against Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday Madrid leads Atletico by one point at the top of the standings It was eliminated by Atletico in the round of 16 last season Leganes only made it to the Copa semifinals in 2017-18 It is winless in three matches in all competitions and sits in 16th place in the Spanish league Hansi Flick's below par Blaugrana side needed an own goal to see off struggling Leganes and maintain their title charge Barcelona beat Leganes 1-0 away from home on Saturday thanks to an own goal forced by Brazilian talisman Raphinha With their lead at the top of La Liga sitting at four points before kick-off Hansi Flick's side started brightly as Robert Lewandowski sent a warning shot towards the Leganes goal early on though the forward fired clear of the crossbar The hosts threatened despite their limited possession Wojciech Szczesny had to be alert to deny Adria Altimira who had been set up by a wonderful run and cut-back from Dani Raba only to strike straight at the Polish veteran Leganes couldn't stop the visitors creating chances and Barca so nearly went ahead when Jules Kounde's effort was deflected towards the near post but Marko Dmitrovic batted it behind for a corner Lamine Yamal had been kept relatively quiet but soon sprung into action striking the side-netting after drifting in from the right wing His fleet-footed approach was matched by the exciting Raba while the hosts also looked dangerous when they tested Barca with a direct approach through the middle Yan Diomande had a penalty appeal waved away before the break while Raphinha had to produce a last-ditch challenge to keep the game goalless Barca were left knowing a more lethal second half would be required to beat a side in danger of relegation and in the opening minutes of the second half Flick's team finally found the breakthrough Barca nicked the ball and Raphinha was afforded too much space to pick out a cross but Jorge Saenz slid in and ended up poking the ball beyond his own goalkeeper Any slip-up would have offered inspiration to second-placed Real Madrid but the goal seemed to ease Barca's tension in possession and punctured Leganes' building confidence It should have been 2-0 when Fermin Lopez escaped a few challenges and was bearing down on goal but the Spaniard contrived to pull his shot wide There were still some hairy moments at the other end of the pitch with Inigo Martinez surviving a penalty appeal for handball Raba then had the ball in the back of the net for Leganes with a bullet header but he had wandered clearly offside and the goal was disallowed Barca were able to keep Leganes at a distance to see out the win taking their lead at the top of the La Liga table to seven points before Real face Alaves on Sunday GOAL rates Barca's players from Estadio Municipal de Butarque.. During a sold-out La Liga showdown against FC Barcelona CD Leganés made history—not for goals scored the club unveiled the world’s first testicular-region sponsorship with the Testicular Cancer Society’s logo directly on players' shorts—in the exact region the disease affects was created by FP7McCann to mark Testicular Cancer Awareness Month and spark a conversation that millions of men often avoid the most expensive and coveted space for sponsors But while brands compete for a place on the chest or sleeve especially not the region that men are often too uncomfortable to talk about placing attention not on the sponsor itself this previously untouched zone became the most meaningful a simple cherry-like design in purple colour was placed at the centre of the players’ shorts—the exact area the disease affects Subtle in execution but bold in implication the placement turned an often-ignored space into a direct and powerful reminder: check yourself Accompanying the visual was the rallying cry #TenemosUnPar ('We have a pair')—a message broadcast across stadium signage encouraging men to take the conversation online “Football gives us a platform few others have Some teammates didn’t even know how to check themselves before this If showing our pair helps save even one life—that’s a win beyond football.” Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men—yet remains one of the least talked about awareness and regular self-exams are dangerously low That’s the insight that sparked this campaign: if men aren’t looking down there on their own “the most effective few seconds in testicular cancer awareness history,” and added “We’ve spent years trying to normalise self-exams through traditional means This campaign reached millions in one shot—getting people talking like never before.” but no one’s ever dared to sponsor the area that actually matters for this conversation we found the ultimate white space in sponsorship one that perfectly aligned message and medium Its power lies in simplicity of the idea: put the message where men need to look—on themselves while watching the thing they love most: the beautiful game.” “This campaign changed how we reach men who need this message most we’re calling on clubs around the world to dedicate just one match to this cause - #TenemosUnPar trended within within minutes of kick off - 2M+ unique visitors landed on the Testicular Cancer Society website ‘Sponsored Balls’ builds on last year’s award-winning 'Highlight Your Balls' initiative which turned wall setups in free-kick highlights into self-check tutorials Barcelona have extended their lead at the top of the La Liga table to seven points for at least the next 24 hours thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Leganés at the Butarque Municipal Stadium on Saturday night in Madrid The Catalans played one of their worst games in a while and had quite a few scares against the hosts and needed an own goal from Jorge Sáenz to escape a hostile environment with all three points and remain in control of the title race The opening 45 minutes were a tough watch for Barça fans who saw perhaps the worst half from their team in a long time: the Blaugrana had very little imagination and struggled to attack against Leganés’ well-organized 4-5-1 formation and low block and relied too much on Lamine Yamal to try and create anything in the final third There were some rare moments of danger that ended with aimless shots and a whole lot of bad passes that ended promising attacks and Pedri was as quiet as we’ve ever seen him this season and knew when to use tactical fouls to slow down the Catalans’ momentum in the few moments in which they did look dangerous with striker Dani Raba moving all over the final third and causing huge trouble for both Barça center-backs with his size and pace and he was responsible for the two biggest chances of the half that ended with a Wojciech Szczesny save and a powerful shot by Raba that went just wide of the post The hosts ended the half as the better team and took advantage of more bad passes from Barça in midfield to create danger going forward and to make matters worse Barça lost Alejandro Balde to injury and the left-back had to be replaced by Gerard Martín shortly before the break The halftime whistle came to end a very poor first half from the Blaugrana who needed to improve in every phase of the game to find the winning goals and secure the victory in the second half against a confident and dangerous Leganés side Hansi Flick made his second substitution of the game at halftime sending on Frenkie de Jong for Ronald Araujo and putting Eric García at center-back to improve the buildup play and add another creative force in midfield The Catalans were also more aggressive without the ball and pressed with more hunger and those changes immediately paid off: Gerard Martín won the ball back in midfield Raphinha sent a low cross into the box looking for Robert Lewandowski and Leganés center-back Jorge Sáenz deflected the ball into his own net to give Barça the lead just three minutes into the period The early goal energized Barça who looked much better compared to the first half moving the ball with more purpose and finding spaces more easily as Leganés started to show cracks defensively Fermín López could have scored an incredible solo goal but somehow missed the target completely from short range and Barça started to look like themselves again as we reached the hour mark Leganés went forward to try and take a breather and had some desperate penalty shouts on plays that were not even close to spot kicks but they at least managed to slow down the pace of Barça’s play for a few minutes and brought the crowd back into the game Flick made two more changes to add fresher legs to try and seal the win as Ferran Torres and Gavi replaced Lewandowski and Fermín but Barça found themselves on the back foot again as Leganés continued to increase the pressure and almost scored the equalizer when a Raba header was disallowed for offside The home team sensed that they had a real chance to steal at least a point and coach Borja Jiménez made two very attacking substitutions including a cameo for former Barça striker Munir El-Haddadi The change almost worked immediately as Munir had a potential assist with his first touch but the other substitute somehow dragged his shot wide in what was easily the best chance of the night for Leganés The game was wide open as we reached the final 15 minutes and Barça struggled to keep hold of the ball and wasted good counter-attacking chances to double their lead Flick made his final change of the night with Pau Cubarsí replacing Eric to add a little more height and speed at the back looking to solidify his defense and keep a clean sheet the visitors got the job done and managed to protect their narrow lead thanks in large part to a truly spectacular play in added time by Iñigo Martínez who made an absolutely incredible tackle to take the ball away from Munir who was through on goal and ready to equalize The full-time whistle came shortly after to give Barça all three points in an ugly game that wasn’t well officiated and featured very little quality football but the victory was the only thing that mattered after the dropped points against Betis last week and how tight the title race still is they can look back on this one as a big reason why Diego Simeone's Atlético still top the standings on 44 points, one ahead of second-placed Real Madrid and six clear of Barcelona in third Atlético dominated the game with more than 60% of ball possession, three strikes off the woodwork and twice as many goal attempts as the home side but paid a heavy price for too many squandered chances, including a penalty kick missed by Antoine Griezmann in added time Leganes scored the winner from a corner in the 50th minute, when Dani Raba crossed from the left to defender Matija Nastasic, at the far post, who fired a towering header past goalkeeper Jan Oblak and into the back of the net we didn't have enough energy," Oblak said postmatch but we didn't have enough energy to win the match With a bit more energy we could have turned it around Atlético coach Simeone did not agree and said so I'm proud to have broken the win record," he said "We had difficulties [against Leganes] but the game was there we see that going to any ground is difficult is the team that feels like they can always beat their opponent." ESPN's Alex Kirkland contributed to this report Diego Simeone's Atlético still top the standings on 44 points, one ahead of second-placed Real Madrid and six clear of Barcelona in third Atlético dominated the game with more than 60% of ball possession, three strikes off the woodwork and twice as many goal attempts as the home side but paid a heavy price for too many squandered chances, including a penalty kick missed by Antoine Griezmann in added time Leganes scored the winner from a corner in the 50th minute, when Dani Raba crossed from the left to defender Matija Nastasic, at the far post, who fired a towering header past goalkeeper Jan Oblak and into the back of the net we didn't have enough energy,\" Oblak said postmatch I'm proud to have broken the win record,\" he said \"We had difficulties [against Leganes] but the game was there is the team that feels like they can always beat their opponent.\" Spain — Barcelona needed a Jorge Saenz own goal to edge Leganes 1-0 and move seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga on Saturday The Catalan giant is fighting for a potential quadruple this season and took another small step toward the league title at Butarque Stadium "The fight and the mentality the team showed today was great," said Flick whose side beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the Champions League quarterfinals first leg on Wednesday Despite Barca's display lacking the style and danger in front of goal that it has shown for much of the season the players celebrated vehemently at the end what is important in these games are three points," Barca defender Eric Garcia told DAZN "I think this is the type of game where the league is won.. and today we could extend that lead a bit." Barcelona lost 1-0 at home against Leganes in December during a slump that it has turned around in 2025 going 24 consecutive matches unbeaten since the turn of the year The Madrid-based minnow set up to frustrate slowing the game with tactical fouls and the occasional spot of time-wasting and the host had the best chance of an ugly first half Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made a fine save to thwart the Spaniard whose shot was too close to the Polish veteran a deflected Jules Kounde effort was batted out by Marko Dmitrovic who was not tested further in the first half Raba lashed a shot narrowly off target for Borja Jimenez's side and Barcelona took off defender Alejandro Balde before the break as he appeared to suffer some kind of muscular injury and we will wait until tomorrow," said Flick The coach sent on Frenkie de Jong for Ronald Araujo at halftime With Robert Lewandowski lurking behind him Saenz deflected Raphinha's low cross into his own net With Leganes forced into opening up a little Barcelona began to threaten more frequently Fermin Lopez should have doubled Barcelona's lead after showing tenacity to fight his way into the box La Liga's top goal scorer Lewandowski directed a header narrowly wide from another searching Raphinha cross and the otherwise quiet teenage star Lamine Yamal forced a save from Dmitrovic at his near post but he had strayed offside and the goal was disallowed but directed a shot wide of Szczesny's far post former Barca forward Munir El Haddadi broke through on goal for Leganes but was foiled by a superb Martinez tackle that clinched his side's win "The last save (by Martinez) was unbelievable," said Flick "Everyone celebrated this as if it was a goal." is two points from safety after the defeat we leave with empty hands against a Barca side that because we put in a great performance," Leganes midfielder Renato Tapia told DAZN You are now being redirected to the BCE.ca website (Bell Canada Enterprises) where you can view our Accessibility plan, and submit your feedback using our Accessibility webform Los Blancos face Madrid-based Leganes at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 29 Carlo Ancelotti's side has played Los Pepineros twice this season Los Blancos have met Leganes ten times in La Liga and seven times in the Copa del Rey IMAGO / ZUMA Press WireReal Madrid have dominated their Madrid rivals in the limited games Here are 5 classic La Liga matches between Real Madrid and Leganes IMAGO / Guillermo MartinezThe first-ever La Liga game at the Estadio Municipal Butarque had six goals in the first 48 minutes Los Blancos scored three goals in eight minutes James Rodriguez (15') and an Alvaro Morata brace (18' and 23') put the away team in a comfortable position Leganes fired back with first half goals from Gabriel Pires (32') and Luciano (35') setting up the next 45 minutes to be interesting IMAGO / ZUMA Press WireReal Madrid hit their rivals for five at the Santiago Bernabeu A young Rodrygo (7') opened the scoring Sergio Ramos (24') scored from the penalty spot with the away team lucky it was only three goals Karim Benzema made an absolute show of the result in the 69th minute A rare Luka Jovic goal in stoppage time completed the rout for Los Blancos IMAGO / Cordon Press/Miguelez SportsLeganes have never beaten Real Madrid in La Liga but have drawn twice One was behind closed doors at the Butarque due to COVID regulations the most in the matchup alongside Karim Benzema Los Pepineros equalized through Bryan Gil one minute into stoppage time of the first half Los Blancos retook the lead in the second half with Marco Asensio (52') scoring thanks to an Isco assist the points were shared thanks to Roger Assale in the 78th minute IMAGO / Guillermo MartinezThe first-ever La Liga meeting between the two was at the Santiago Bernabeu and a straightforward win for Real Madrid Two first half strikes from forward Gareth Bale (38' and 45+1') put Los Blancos in a strong position The win kept Real Madrid two points ahead of their rivals Barcelona IMAGO / Alberto GardinThe previous La Liga game of the 2024/25 season resulted in a 3-0 win for Real Madrid keeping up the momentum in chasing down Barcelona It took 43 minutes for Los Blancos to score the opening goal with Kylian Mbappe tapping into an empty net after good work from Vinicius Jr After a nervous opening to the second half Federico Valverde (66') made it 2-0 with a clever free kick Jude Bellingham (85') sealed the three points reacting first to head home a Brahim Diaz shot that came back off the crossbar Real Madrid's Summer Shopping List Includes Premier League Talent & EURO 2024 Star Why Trent Alexander-Arnold Wants to Leave Liverpool for Real Madrid Brazil Reportedly Reopen Talks With Carlo Ancelotti To Be National Team Manager JORDAN MERRITTJordan Merritt is a freelance soccer writer who covers Real Madrid CF On SI. He is an obsessive soccer fan and an Arsenal supporter. The Frenchman scored twice to rescue Carlo Ancelotti's side after another underwhelming showing Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Jude Bellingham also grabbed himself a goal as Real Madrid overcame a 2-1 deficit to beat relegation-threatened Leganes 3-2 but their stars showed up at the right times Mbappe's late free-kick salvaging what might have been an embarrassing evening for the title holders but saw an effort well tipped around the post converting from the penalty spot after Arda Guler was brought down in the penalty box turning home from close range after the visitors cut down the Madrid left a sweeping move down the wing and ensuing cutback giving Dani Raba a tap in with Andriy Lunin left stranded Madrid found an equaliser of their own early in the second half Bellingham seizing onto a loose ball in the box and finding the bottom corner with a guided finish They completed the turnaround after 76 minutes Rodrygo was scythed down on the edge of the box a whipped effort that crept through a gap in the wall and into the bottom corner The hosts endured a nervy moment or two late on with Leganes creating a couple of good chances as the minutes waned the visitors could never carve out a clear opening - and Carlo Ancelotti's side held on GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from the Santiago Bernabeu.. Los Blancos managed a 2-1 victory against Villarreal to go level on points with Barcelona The Catalan side have since won their game in hand to go three points ahead at the top IMAGO / PGS Photo AgencyThough Los Blancos remain unbeaten against their neighbors Carlo Ancelotti's side will have to deal with a few injury setbacks for this game Here is how Real Madrid could line up on Saturday against Leganés: IMAGO / PGS Photo AgencyGK: Andriy Lunin - Thibault Courtois will miss this game after sustaining a slight muscle strain on international duty Carlo Ancelotti will likely not take any risks with his players' fitness as Madrid has a crucial Champions League clash against Arsenal on the horizon RB: Lucas Vasquez - The Spanish player will start against Leganés He was able to rest throughout the international window and should be in optimal form to face the relegation-threatened side CB: Antonio Rudiger - The number one option at his position the German international is Ancelotti's most reliable player this season CB: Raul Asencio - The young centre back should partner with Rudiger at the position David Alaba could also be an option in this position LB: Eduardo Camavinga - With Ferland Mendy injured and Fran Garcia certainly not back at full fitness following his injury sustained against Villarreal Eduardo Camavinga should start unless Ancelotti takes a risk with Garcia CDM: Aurélien Tchouaméni - The French midfielder is one of the most important players on this Real Madrid team; therefore CM: Jude Bellingham - The English star is a key player for Real Madrid this season he is in excellent form and should start their next game against Leganés CM: Luka Modric - The Croatian should start this game Carlo Ancelotti will not take any risks with his South American players for this game RW: Rodrygo - Though Ancelotti might give some rest to his South American players following the international break the Brazilian should start this game against Leganés Arda Güler or Brahim Diaz are solid options for the Italian if he decides to rest his player should lead Los Blancos' frontline alongside Mbappé and Rodrygo ST: Kylian Mbappé - The French star was in great form with Los Blancos ahead of the international break He is undoubtedly the most in-form offensive player for Real Madrid and should start against Leganés Footage Emerges Of X-Rated Gesture That Could Get Kylian Mbappe Banned For Next UCL Match Transcript: Carlo Ancelotti’s Pre-Match Press Conference Ahead of Real Madrid vs Leganes in La Liga Real Madrid vs Leganes: 5 Classic La Liga Matches With so many players unavailable for Real Madrid Carlo Ancelotti relied on his bench players to get the job done at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque Luka Modrić buried just the second Copa del Rey goal of his entire career Endrick doubled the visitors' lead in the 25th minute The 18-year-old was in the right place at the right time and made no mistakes when the ball fell to his feet just a few yards out after Jacobo Ramón was whistled for a handball Despite dominating possession in the second half Juan Cruz bagged an equalizer for Leganes in the 59th minute thanks to a deflection from Ferland Mendy Just when it looked like extra time was on the horizon 20-year-old Real Madrid Castilla product Gonzalo García bagged the winner in stoppage time an injury-plagued Real Madrid must take on Leganes at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque Before Carlo Ancelotti's men can look ahead to the UCL clash or even the Madrid derby this weekend they first must return to Copa del Rey action 16th-place Leganes should not give Real Madrid many problems but Los Blancos are going through an injury crisis that is getting worse by the day Not only will Real Madrid be without long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão, but they are still missing the injured Eduardo Camavinga and Antonio Rüdiger. Ancelotti also confirmed Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé and David Alaba are all dealing with new issues and cannot play in Wednesday's match Thibaut Courtois will miss out on the trip as well for a much-needed rest Here's what Real Madrid's XI could look like against Leganes on Feb GK: Andriy Lunin—The Ukrainian comes back into the XI to give Courtois a rest RB: Lucas Vázquez—Vázquez is still the main man on the right flank despite his defensive liabilities CB: Raúl Asencio—The 21-year-old gets the nod in place of the injured Rüdiger CB: Aurélien Tchouaméni—The Frenchman must resume his emergency center back duties now that Alaba is back on the sidelines LB: Fran García—García will look to better link up with Vinícius Júnior after the pair was not on the same page at the weekend DM: Fede Valverde—Valverde only featured off the bench last Copa del Rey outing for Real Madrid but the Uruguay international is needed in Ancelotti's makeshift midfield DM: Dani Ceballos—The Spaniard could make way for Luka Modrić but Ceballos has impressed as of late alongside Valverde RW: Brahim Díaz—Díaz is back on the right wing after playing just three minutes at the weekend AM: Arda Güler—The teenager could be in for just his second start of the new year with Bellingham unavailable Güler's creativity was greatly missed in Real Madrid's defeat to Espanyol LW: Vinícius Júnior—All the pressure will be on the Brazilian to lead Real Madrid's attack in the absence of Mbappé Vinícius Júnior struggled to get much going in his first game back from suspension at the weekend Rodrygo must play as a number nine against Leganes play'It's depressing': Sid Lowe reacts to alleged racist abuse at Balde (1:58)Sid Lowe reacts to Alejandro Balde saying that he was racially abused by Getafe supporters in Barcelona's 1-1 road draw Barcelona and Real Madrid remain on track to meet in the Copa del Rey semifinal or final after avoiding each other in Monday's quarterfinal draw Both teams were handed away ties in the last eight, with Barça travelling to Valencia and Madrid pitted against Leganés All four games will be played the week commencing Feb with the winners progressing to a two-legged semifinal That could mean two more Clásicos this season if both Barça and Madrid progress and draw each other in the last four There also remains the possibility of a Madrid derby in the latter stage of the competition if both Real and Atlético continue to progress Real Madrid fought back to beat struggling Leganes 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Jude Bellingham added another to put them level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona MORE — La Liga table, top scorers Mbappe put Real ahead from the penalty spot in the first half as Carlo Ancelotti left Vinicius Junior Federico Valvedre and Rodrygo on the bench after their long trips during the international break But soon Real were behind as Leganes scored twice before the break through Garcia and Raba to stun the Spanish giants England star Jude Bellingham scored early in the second half to make it 2-2 and Mbappe curled home a stunning free kick to seal the win with the French superstar scoring his 22nd La Liga goal of the season and his 33rd in all competitions Real are now level on points with leaders Barcelona on 63 but have played a game more than Barca who they meet in May for what already looks like being a decisive El Clasico They’ve turned it around thanks to Mbappe’s beauty of a free kick ¡PERO QUÉ GOLAZO DE MBAPPÉ! 😍🔥😱El Real Madrid toma ventaja sobre el Leganés. pic.twitter.com/lt1PWgPeI8 The star steps up when Real needed him and gets them level right at the start of the second half ¡Bellingham con el gol del empate! 🔥⚽👀2-2. pic.twitter.com/XpQEVblCNy who were in the relegation zone before kick off They’ve turned it around in just a few minutes Rodrygo and Vinicius will be coming on at half time… ¡Dani Raba le da el segundo al Leganés! 🔥⚽ pic.twitter.com/FQVDIWuAb1 Within two minutes of the restart Leganes equalize Kylian Mbappe has put Real Madrid 1-0 up from the penalty spot after Bellingham played in Guler and the young Turkish sensation was brought down ¡GOOOL DE MBAPPÉ!Lo cobra perfecto y pone adelante al Real Madrid. 👏⚽ pic.twitter.com/TpiFxrrP88 ¡PENAL PARA EL REAL MADRID!Por esta falta a Arda Guler. pic.twitter.com/mP09AVLKtT Thibaut Courtois is out with a knee injury but it isn’t serious Rodrygo and Valverde have been left out of the starting lineup after long journeys during the international break This is going to be a routine win for Real Madrid against struggling Leganes as Mbappe and Bellingham have hit peak form at precisely the right time Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are in sensational form for Real Madrid who have overcome defensive injuries to stay in the title race in Spain and also reach the Champions League quarterfinals where they face Arsenal They are expected to push Barcelona all the way in the title race and they head to Barca in May for what will be a crucial game between the bitter rivals Between now and then they cannot afford any slip ups in La Liga stream link and start timeKick off time: 4pm ET Saturday (March 29) TV/Streaming: ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ A Division of NBCUniversal DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only and there is no gambling offered on this site This service is intended for adult audiences No guarantees are made for any specific outcome (VIDEO) Barcelona Edge Leganés with Narrow Win in LaLigaFC Barcelona escaped Butarque with a narrow 1-0 victory over CD Leganés on Saturday A second-half own goal by Jorge Sáenz proved enough for Hansi Flick's men to maintain their position atop the league standings Leganés held their ground well in the opening half Their compact defensive shape and quick transitions caused problems for the visitors with Dani Raba creating the clearest chance of the half in the 12th minute whose shot was brilliantly saved by Wojciech Szczesny Coming off a big Champions League win over Dortmund Barcelona made some rotations and struggled to find rhythm Lamine Yamal came closest with a shot into the side netting while Alejandro Balde limped off injured before halftime raising new concerns for the Barça medical staff. Alejandro Balde salió lesionado antes del descanso dejando preocupaciones en el cuerpo técnico the deadlock was broken — not by brilliance a cross from Raphinha deflected off Jorge Sáenz and into his own net Barça controlled possession after the goal and nearly doubled their advantage through Fermín López whose solo run was denied by Marko Dmitrovic But Leganés pushed hard in the closing stages Diego García went close with a long-range effort and Munir El Haddadi forced a late defensive intervention from Íñigo Martínez Vinicius Junior (L) of Real Madrid vies with Valentin Rosier of CD Leganes during the Laliga football match between Real Madrid and CD Leganes March 29 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid drew level on points with FC Barcelona at the top of La Liga after a narrow 3-2 win at home to Leganes on Saturday night with two goals from Kylian Mbappe Mbappe's first goal was a penalty that was hotly contested by Leganes after Arda Guler went down under a challenge but Leganes leveled directly afterward when Diego Garcia reacted quickly to a loose ball in the Madrid area Dani Raba then finished off a swift break four minutes before halftime to put the visitors ahead after Brahim Diaz lost the ball in midfield Jude Bellingham made it 2-2 at the start of the second half and Mbappe scored what turned out to be the winning goal with 15 minutes left to play after Renato Tapia was penalized for a challenge on Rodrygo Atletico Madrid's fading title hopes took another big hit after being held to a 1-1 draw away by Espanyol Cesar Azpilicueta scored a brilliant volley from outside the penalty area to put Atletico in front in the 38th minute but Clement Lenglet gifted Espanyol the equalizer when he hauled down Leandro Cabrera 20 minutes from time with Javi Puado scoring from the penalty spot Atletico lost defender Robin Le Normand with a head injury in the first half and he is now a doubt for its Copa del Rey semi-final game at home to Barcelona next Wednesday Rayo Vallecano's hopes of playing in Europe got a boost with a 2-0 win away to Alaves Pathe Cisse headed Rayo ahead after just a minute as the home side failed to defend a corner effectively Joan Jordan wasted a penalty for Alaves with a tame chip into the goalkeeper's hands and Pedro Diaz sealed the win in the 57th minute after beating two defenders and unleashing a powerful shot Saturday kicked off with Real Sociedad winning 2-1 at home over bottom of the table Valladolid Mikel Oyarzabal's 23rd minute goal and a second from Sergio Gomez after 68 minutes put Real Sociedad 2-0 up before Juanmi Latasa's injury time effort led to a nervous finish in the Anoeta Stadium while Villarreal visits Getafe and Athletic Club Bilbao are among the big games of the day along with the Seville derby between Betis and Sevilla Players of CD Leganes celebrate a goal during the Laliga football match between Real Madrid and CD Leganes Jude Bellingham (2nd R) of Real Madrid scores a goal during the Laliga football match between Real Madrid and CD Leganes Luka Modric (L) of Real Madrid vies with Yvan Neyou of CD Leganes during the Laliga football match between Real Madrid and CD Leganes Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid reacts during the Laliga football match between Real Madrid and CD Leganes Jude Bellingham (L) and Lucas Vazquez of Real Madrid celebrate a goal during the Laliga football match between Real Madrid and CD Leganes Players of Real Madrid celebrate a goal during the Laliga football match between Real Madrid and CD Leganes Kylian Mbappe (3rd L) of Real Madrid scores a goal during the Laliga football match between Real Madrid and CD Leganes Eduardo Camavinga (R) of Real Madrid vies with Daniel Raba of CD Leganes during the Laliga football match between Real Madrid and CD Leganes Jude Bellingham (C) of Real Madrid vies with Daniel Raba (L) and Renato Tapia of CD Leganes during the Laliga football match between Real Madrid and CD Leganes Barcelona needed a Jorge Saenz own goal to edge Leganes 1-0 and move seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga on Saturday Second-place champions Madrid face Alaves on Sunday and have to play catch-up after Hansi Flick's side scraped their way to a narrow but vital win on the road The Catalan giants are fighting for a potential quadruple this season and took another small step towards the league title at Butarque stadium whose side beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday "(Madrid) have a match tomorrow but we're only looking at ourselves three points is good and we had a great week." Barcelona lost 1-0 at home against Leganes in December during a slump which they have turned around in 2025 now 24 consecutive matches unbeaten since the turn of the year The Madrid minnows set up to frustrate as they did in the first meeting Despite Flick selecting a strong side Barcelona found it hard to create danger and the hosts had the best chance of an ugly first half At the other end a deflected Jules Kounde effort was batted out by Marko Dmitrovic Raba lashed a shot narrowly off-target for Borja Jimenez's side and Barcelona took off defender Alejandro Balde before the break as he appeared to be hurt (but) I will say nothing and we will wait until tomorrow," said Flick Flick sent on Frenkie de Jong for Ronald Araujo at half-time Fermin Lopez should have doubled Barcelona's lead after showing tenacity to fight his way into the box La Liga's top goalscorer Lewandowski directed a header narrowly wide from another searching Raphinha cross With 20 minutes to go Raba headed home for Leganes but had strayed offside and the goal was disallowed Diego Garcia might have levelled but directed a shot wide of Szczesny's far post when well-placed In stoppage time former Barca forward Munir El Haddadi broke through on goal for Leganes but was foiled by a superb Martinez tackle which clinched his side's win