First against second. The best hitter in the League, against the ultimate setter. A Foreman against Ali. But like Superman and Lex Luthor in many of their skirmishes, Espanyol found their Kryptonite in Leganés, a team so impregnable that it completely upset the promotion favorite, accustomed to scoring goals with ease. Espanyol lost, less mature in the areas and much more splendid in its proposal and with this they lost their undefeated record in the Stage Front. In the process, the leadership is lost. Although this, as Luis García reminded us in the preview, will be long.
Espanyol came prepared for the closest thing to a First Division duel that can occur until this day in the Hypermotion League. If Luis García's team boasts offensive exuberance, Leganés boasts of being a rocky team in defense. The Madrid team has only conceded five goals in twelve games and is the only team that surpasses the parakeets' goal balance. That is why this time the most energetic and committed version of Luis García's team appeared. And even that was not enough to achieve the game and the result he expected.
Both teams lived too far from the areas, competing for every inch in a tactical battle in which both won small victories. Espanyol sent more, but it was difficult for them to find spaces inside. Luis García moved Melamed away from the action zone and only Gragera, who returned to the eleven due to Lozano's loss, showed he had the finesse to filter precise passes. Too much ball for Keidi Bare and Pere Milla. And Espanyol was trapped in the war that Leganés wanted, prepared to close the spaces inside with a five-man defense.
After twenty minutes Gragera found Pere Milla inside the area and after a series of lucky rebounds, the forward managed to finish, although his shot was deflected into a corner by a central defender when it was going for goal. That was the best chance and almost the only one for Luis García's team.
Espanyol chewed up the plays excessively and that's where their own condemnation came. Errors in delivery due to lack of lucidity led to Leganés' best chances. The clearest in the first half came in added time, when Miguel de la Fuente sat Calero down and his cross was finished off twice from the penalty spot. Under the sticks, Gragera saved first and then Oliván.
That play was a prelude to the start of the second half, when in another counterattack Raba found De la Fuente on the run. He surpassed Calero and in one-on-one he took advantage of a rebound from Pacheco to send the ball to goal.
Luis García's changes brought his team closer to the rival goal. Aguado's presence gave the team judgment. His association with Melamed was promising. Jofre also offered the overflow on the outside that the team needed. But the minutes passed and the work of Leganés was more powerful than the offensive capacity of a Espanyol at full capacity. On the contrary, Keidi Bare gave the second to Leganés, who Diego García failed to score.
Braithwaite had the tie with two consecutive shots ten minutes from time, but Diego Conde showed why he is the most unbeaten goalkeeper in the competition. There were no more options for Espanyol, who suffered their first home defeat of the season against a direct rival for promotion.
