Barcelona suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to Leganes at home on Sunday, as Sergio González’s early header shocked the LaLiga leaders. This marked a disappointing result for Barcelona, who have now recorded just one win in their last six league matches despite their successful Champions League campaign.
The setback leaves Barcelona at the top of LaLiga with 38 points, tied with Atletico Madrid and just one point ahead of Real Madrid, both of whom have a game in hand. Leganes secured their first-ever win at the Camp Nou, climbing to 15th place in the standings with 18 points.
The match began poorly for Barcelona, with Leganes taking the lead just four minutes in when Gonzalez scored from a corner, rising unmarked at the near post to beat goalkeeper Iñaki Peña. Barcelona dominated possession, holding more than 80% throughout the match, yet they struggled to penetrate Leganes’ disciplined five-man defense.
Barcelona’s attempts on goal were largely ineffective, as they failed to hit the target with 16 out of their 20 shots. Marko Dmitrovic, the Leganes goalkeeper, played a crucial role, making outstanding saves against attempts from key players including Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.
Frustration mounted for the Barcelona side, with players like Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha squandering promising opportunities. Pedri expressed his discontent post-match, acknowledging the team’s need for improvement in front of goal and stressing the importance of starting games strongly to avoid early setbacks.
Despite this challenging loss, there remains hope for Barcelona. The team is still at the top of LaLiga, positioning them well for upcoming matches, including a key encounter against Atletico Madrid next. With the right adjustments and determination, they have the potential to regain their form and continue to contend for the league title.
In summary, while the defeat highlights inconsistencies in LaLiga performance, it also serves as a pivotal moment for Barcelona to regroup and refocus for the challenges ahead.