Barcelona tightened their grip at the top of La Liga with a hard-fought 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Leganes on Saturday, courtesy of a Jorge Saenz own goal.
The victory at the Butarque Stadium stretched their lead to seven points over second-placed Real Madrid, who are due to play Alaves on Sunday.
Hansi Flick’s side, chasing a historic quadruple, found it difficult to break down a disciplined Leganes side that had already beaten them 1-0 earlier in the season.
Determined not to let history repeat itself, Barcelona found a result that could prove pivotal in the title race.
“In 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… we’re top of the table, which is where we want to be, and today we could extend that distance a bit.”
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, slowing the game with tactical fouls and the occasional spot of time-wasting.
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.
Dani Raba broke free down the left, with Inigo Martinez struggling to keep up, and he teed up Adria Altimira.
Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made a fine save to thwart the Spaniard, whose shot was too close to the Polish veteran.
At the other end 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 be hurt.
Flick sent on Frenkie de Jong for Ronald Araujo at half-time, moving Eric Garcia back into defence, and Barcelona soon took the lead.
With Robert Lewandowski lurking behind him, Saenz deflected Raphinha’s low cross into his own net.
‘So tough’
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, but scuffed his shot wide.
La Liga’s top goalscorer 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.
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.
Leganes, 19th, are two points from safety after the defeat.
“It’s so tough… we leave with empty hands against a Barca that, while it’s true they attacked against us, they were not as efficient as usual, and you leave with a bitter feeling because we put in a great performance,” Leganes midfielder Renato Tapia told DAZN.
“We can do it (stay up), and I think today we showed it.”
AFP
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM VERILY NEWS
