Real Madrid vs Leganes: LaLiga Preview

Real Madrid: Recent Form & Team News

Real Madrid enter this fixture sitting second in LaLiga, tied on 60 points with Barcelona but trailing on the head-to-head record. With the Catalans having a game in hand, Carlo Ancelotti’s men could find themselves three points behind by the time this match kicks off.

The European giants are riding a strong wave of momentum, having secured four consecutive wins across all competitions, including a 2-1 victory over Villarreal before the international break where Kylian Mbappe netted both goals. Their hopes of securing a treble are still alive, with upcoming matches against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals and Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semi-final.

Real Madrid boast the best home record in the league, amassing 34 points from 13 matches at the Bernabeu this season. They will look to exploit Leganes’ away struggles, as the visitors have only managed to collect 10 points from 14 away games.

On the injury front, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain long-term absentees, though both are making positive progress towards a return before the season’s end. Ferland Mendy, Dani Ceballos, and Jesus Vallejo are also ruled out, but no new injury concerns have emerged from the international break.

Ancelotti is expected to make a few changes, with Vinicius Junior and Antonio Rudiger likely to return to the starting lineup after beginning on the bench against Villarreal. Kylian Mbappe, who has already scored 31 goals across all competitions this season, will once again be the main threat in attack.

Leganes: Recent Form & Team News

Leganes find themselves in a desperate battle for survival, currently sitting in 18th place, level on points with 17th-placed Alaves. The reigning Segunda Division champions have found life tough in the top flight, especially away from home where wins have been hard to come by.

Their most recent outing saw them fall 3-2 to Real Betis, following a 1-0 loss to Celta Vigo. However, earlier this season, they pulled off a shocking 1-0 away win against Barcelona, proving they can upset the bigger teams when at their best.

Leganes have already faced Real Madrid twice this season, losing 3-0 in the reverse league fixture and 3-2 in a Copa del Rey quarter-final thriller where they showed resilience despite ultimately coming up short.

In their previous nine LaLiga meetings with Real Madrid, Leganes have never won, losing seven and drawing two. Their last trip to the Bernabeu in the league ended in a 5-0 thrashing back in October 2019.

Manager Borja Jimenez will be without Enric Franquesa, who is sidelined with a long-term knee injury. Diego Garcia and Yvan Neyou are also doubts heading into the match, with late fitness tests set to determine their availability.

Dani Raba, who scored a brace against Betis before the break, is expected to lead the line again, with Miguel de la Fuente likely to start from the bench. The in-form Juan Cruz, who scored twice against Real Madrid in their Copa del Rey meeting, will be another key attacking threat.

Head-to-Head & Key Stats

• Real Madrid have the best home record in LaLiga this season, earning 34 points from 13 matches.
• Leganes have only earned 10 points from 14 away games this campaign.
• In their previous nine LaLiga meetings, Real Madrid have won seven times, with the remaining two matches ending in draws.
• Juan Cruz has scored seven goals and provided four assists in 32 appearances this season, making him Leganes’ most consistent attacking player.
• Kylian Mbappe has netted 31 goals in all competitions this season, highlighting his attacking prowess.

What to Expect

While Real Madrid’s defensive concerns remain a worry, their potent attack led by Mbappe and Vinicius Junior will likely pose significant problems for a struggling Leganes side. With the home team eager to keep pace with Barcelona in the title race, Leganes will need to produce a disciplined and inspired display if they hope to leave the Bernabeu with any points.

It promises to be an intriguing encounter, with one side battling for the title and the other fighting to escape the drop.