A hard-earned point in Málaga (0-0)

C.D. Leganés earned a well-deserved point in their away match against Málaga C.F. (0-0) in Matchday 32 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION. The entire team put in a tremendous effort to secure a point at one of the toughest away grounds in the league, in a back-and-forth match with chances for both sides.

Igor Oca made two changes to the Leganés lineup from the rout against Ceuta in the previous matchday, with academy product Marcos Leiva entering the starting XI at right back in place of Lalo—who ultimately dropped out of the squad due to discomfort—and Dani Rodríguez returning to the lineup in place of Cissé, who was with the Guinea national team during this March FIFA international break.

Juan Soriano made a save to deny Málaga an early goal, and Dani Rodríguez had the best chance for Leganés in a first half that ended scoreless

The match began with intensity, with both teams trying to take the initiative and putting strong pressure on their opponent. The first chance of the match came in the 7th minute, with a low shot by Chupe that Juan Soriano saved well. Lega responded with a nice team move finished by Dani Rodríguez in the 9th minute, but the defense blocked the Galician’s shot. In the 13th minute, Juan Soriano made another great save, diving low to stop a shot by Puga and prevent the home side from scoring.

Lega claimed a penalty in the 24th minute after Álex Millán went down in Málaga’s box, but neither the referee nor VAR deemed the play sufficient to award a penalty. In the 34th minute, the referee disallowed a goal by Millán himself for offside, as the Zaragoza-born striker was caught offside on a cross from Juan Cruz on the left.

Leganés’s best chance came in the 41st minute, with a great assist from Juan Cruz to Dani Rodríguez; the No. 9 chipped the ball over the onrushing Herrero, but the shot grazed the post. Just before halftime, Chupe had a chance on a counterattack for Málaga, but his shot sailed over the bar. With chances but no goals, the first half ended.

Franquesa and Asue came close to scoring in an intense second half, with chances for both sides

With no changes after the break, Joaquín had Málaga’s first chance of the second half in the 52nd minute. Leganés tried to stifle the home side’s attacks in the opening minutes of the second half, as in the 59th minute, when Dani Lorenzo crashed the ball against the crossbar with a shot from outside the box. The response came in the form of a clear-cut chance for Franquesa in the 61st minute with a header following a run by Duk, but the No. 15 couldn’t direct his header between the posts.

In the 62nd minute, Igor Oca made his first substitutions, bringing on Melero and Asue in place of Guirao and Álex Millán. Asue himself had a chance in the 67th minute following an assist from Dani Rodríguez, but his shot hit the side netting. In a wild match, Melero had a good opportunity in the 72nd minute, and on the counterattack, Soriano once again made a save against Dorrio. In the 77th minute, Naim replaced Juan Cruz in the Pepinera’s third substitution, looking to freshen up the left flank.

A wild final stretch with back-and-forth action, but no finishing touch

In the 82nd minute, a dangerous cross-shot by Duk forced Herrero to make a last-second save, and in the 84th minute, the home side responded through Larrubia on a counterattack that went high. Óscar Plano was Igor Oca’s final substitution, coming on in the 88th minute for Dani Rodríguez. Naim had the final chance for Leganés in stoppage time with a low left-footed shot that Alfonso Herrero blocked.

 With the final whistle, Leganés picked up a point at the home of the league’s best home team for the second consecutive matchday and now sits on 38 points in the standings. The next match will take place this Thursday (9:30 p.m.) at Ontime Butarque against Real Zaragoza.