Barcelona solidified their position at the top of the LaLiga table with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Leganes on Saturday. Barcelona’s win extended their lead to seven points. With just one loss from their first 17 matches of the 2023/24 season, they’re already riding a 12-match unbeaten run in league play.
Jorge Saenz scored the winning goal, unconsciously redirecting a cross past his own goalie for the decisive tally. This set play earned Barcelona three very valuable points. Raphinha, who made the cross that brought the first goal, was central to what had happened so far. Robert Lewandowski was heavily involved in the build-up play, underlining his importance to the Catalans’ attacking threat.
A Match of Near Misses
Barcelona was on the attack for the entirety of the game, generating chance after chance to extend their lead. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal was the constant threat down the right, linking up beautifully with Ferran Torres but they were both guilty of wasting opportunities. Jules Kounde nearly made an impact from outside the area with a long range shot that went wide.
Even after a brilliant performance from the table-toppers, Leganes battled strongly to search for an equalizer. The hosts looked set to equalise when Dani Raba headed in a cross with power and precision. That goal was immediately ruled out for offside. Leganes missed a glorious chance to go up first as Raba sent Adria Altimira clear. Wojciech Szczesny stepped up with an important save to keep them out.
Reflections on the Match
In the wake of that encounter, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick lamented the difficulties posed by Barcelona’s positioning.
“For us today was a very difficult game but winning was very important. I am proud of what my team is doing in the last few weeks and months,” – Hansi Flick
Barcelona will want to use their win as a platform and keep the good times rolling. They’ll look to build on that effort in hosting Celta Vigo in LaLiga this Saturday. Their team is as focused as ever on continuing their unblemished record. Even so, they are hellbent on building on their runaway success atop the table last year, while navigating the unique challenges that this season pits before them.
“We need to work on our defence and attack. But we’ve got three points and that’s what’s important,” – Hansi Flick
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Barcelona will look to carry their momentum into their next fixture as they prepare to host Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Saturday. The team remains focused on maintaining their unbeaten run and further extending their lead at the top of the table as they navigate the challenges of the season ahead.
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