FC Barcelona travels to face Leganes this Saturday in La Liga, following a mixed week. They drew 1-1 against Real Betis at home but then impressively defeated Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg. Despite the draw, Barcelona actually increased their lead over Real Madrid, as Real Madrid lost to Valencia and then suffered a 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
Leganes are struggling, having won only once in their last six league matches. They`ve lost three and drawn one of their last four, placing them 18th in the table, two points from safety. Barcelona`s Lamine Yamal is expected to play despite a minor injury sustained against Borussia Dortmund. He could feature alongside Gavi, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres, with Robert Lewandowski likely rested for the Champions League second leg against Dortmund.
Here’s a breakdown of the match, including viewing information and more:
How to Watch and Match Details
- Date: Saturday, April 12
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Municipal de Butarque — Leganes, Spain
- Live stream: ESPN+
- Odds: Leganes +750; Draw +475; FC Barcelona -340
Last Encounter
Barcelona and Leganes last played on December 15 in La Liga, where Leganes surprisingly won 1-0 at Barcelona. Sergio Gonzalez scored the decisive goal in what was a low point for Barcelona this season.
Barcelona`s Perspective
Hansi Flick discussed the upcoming match in his pre-match press conference. He emphasized the need to maintain Champions League level focus and determination. With only eight league games remaining, he stressed the importance of winning to secure the La Liga title. Flick acknowledged Leganes` quality, noting their win against Barcelona, victory over Atletico Madrid, and close game with Real Madrid. He highlighted Leganes` strong defense and counter-attacking ability, urging his team to be focused. Flick recognized the difficulty of the match against a relegation-battling side and mentioned potential team rotations based on player fitness.
Predicted Lineups
Leganes: Marko Dmitrovic; Sergio Gonzalez, Matija Nastasic, Renato Tapia; Valentin Rosier, Seydouba Cisse, Yvan Neyou, Javi Hernandez; Juan Cruz, Dani Raba, Diego Garcia.
FC Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny; Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Alejandro Balde; Pedri, Frankie De Jong; Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Ferran Torres.
Player to Watch
Lamine Yamal, FC Barcelona – Lamine Yamal is expected to be a key player for Barcelona again after his impressive Champions League performance against Borussia Dortmund, where he scored and contributed to another goal. Despite a minor injury, he is anticipated to start and lead the team.
Key Match Storyline
Will Flick`s Rotations Pay Off? Flick faces the challenge of squad rotation during a busy period. Barcelona are still competing in La Liga, Champions League, and Copa del Rey (final against Real Madrid on April 26). Balancing player freshness for all competitions, including a potential Champions League semi-final against either Bayern Munich or Inter, will be crucial.
Match Prediction
Barcelona is favored to win and take three points, building on their 4-0 Champions League victory. Prediction: FC Barcelona 3, Leganes 0
Adrian Whitmore