Leganés 1-5 Barcelona: match report and goals
The MSN were all on target as Barcelona brushed a spirited, aggressive, Leganés aside. Rafinha scored a superb goal. Gabriel got the home side's consolation goal.
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Leganés 1-5 Barcelona match report
Barcelona dealt with a spirited, and at times overly aggressive Leganés side with some lethal striking from the MSN. The visitors struggled to settle in the opening spell as Leganés pressed, harried and pressured, but with their first chance Barcelona opened the scoring, when Suárez beat his man on a sprint down the right and set up Messi for a tap in.
Leganés continued their forceful game, but with a goal in the bag Barcelona were happier and dealt better with their opponents. Two more clinical moves in the first half saw the MSN all the scoresheet by half-time, the first time that's happened in a Liga match. Messi set up Suárez for the second, and Suárez then turned provider for Neymar just before the break.
Leganés to their credit never gave up and despite losing another two goals (one a Rafinha screamer in the top corner from outside the box) they kept going forward until they got a consolation goal, a superb free-kick from Gabriel.
Barcelona head home with all three points and their Liga campaign back on track. With the 7-0 win over Celtic in the Champions League that's 12 goals in two games for Luis Enrique's side, and the slip up against Alavés feels a long time ago. Meanwhile, although Leganés were well beaten today, the other sides who still have to visit the Butarque stadium won't be relishing the trip after what we saw today.
Leganés 1-5 Barcelona full time
Peep! Full time! Barcelona with a thumping 5-1 win over a Leganés side who never gave up and got a consolation goal, a fine free kick from Gabriel, for their superb fans.
91'| MESSI! Just past the junction of post and bar. Decent free-kick, but Barça stay at 5.
90'| 2 minutes of time added on.
89'| Messi knocked over. Free-kick in striking range.
87'| Alba drives into the box and ends up catching Serantes accidentally behind the bye-line. The two have an exchange of pleasantries.
86'| Omar booked for an incredibly late, rather nasty tackle on Neymar. No need.
85'| Another neat move from Leganés, this time it's Arda Turan who gets a good tackle in to break things up.
84'| Great tackle from Piqué to stop Koné who was bearing down on goal. Leganés are not letting Barcelona relax.
83'| Szymanowski in down the left for Leganés... but he's offside!
81'| Was that hand-ball by Piqué in the box? Leganés and the Butarque think so, but the ref was right by the Barcelona player and doesn't give anything.
79'| GOOOOOAAAAAAL! Gabriel!! Great free-kick over the wall and Ter Stegen had no chance. Leganés get their goal and the Butarque goes crazy. Leganés 1-5 Barcelona.
79'| Neymar booked for complaining about things to the ref.
78'| Arda Turan forced into a foul at the top of the box! Dangerous place...
77'| Koné slams into Ter Stegen's back after the keeper had played the ball away. The referee gives the striker a row for being silly.
75'| Alcácer so close to the sixth after Alba squares to him, but a defender JUST nicks the ball before the new signing can bury it.
74'| Piqué in with two feet and studs up on Gabriel. Piqué can't see that he's done anything wrong. The referee does.
72'| Neymar again down the left, scampering like a whippet on fire. Beats Bustinza (again) and gets through on goal, but his final touch just lets him down. Exhilarating to watch though.
71'| Mascherano with a slightly wild pass-back tests Ter Stegen's ability to play it with his feet. He copes, just.
70'| Messi with a diagonal ball looking for Alcácer, but it's Bustinza who gets his head on on it and FORCES A GREAT SAVE FROM SERANTES.
69'| Rafinha takes a solid blow to the head and he's down holding his noggin. Looks like he'll be alright, but might have a headache this afternoon.
67'| Leganés still want to give their fans a goal. Rico down the left, but his cross is far too heavy.
65'| Denis Suárez comes on for Barcelona. Iniesta heads off to the bench. Solid game from Iniesta, with a few moments of twinkle-toed brilliance.
63'| GOOOOOOLAZOOOOOO! Rafinha smashes one into the top corner from outside the box. Boom! He stepped inside and unleashed an absolute left foot peach.
62'| Alcácer has the ball in the net. The assistant ref has the flag up. Ball had come back off the post...
60'| Gabriel! Snap shot saved by Ter Stegen!
59'| Alcácer to Neymar who absolutely beats Bustinaza all ends up with a turn of pace. The Brazilian bears down on goal, but can only win the corner.
58'| Messi! Into the box on the left, fires at the keeper who can't hold it, but Leganés somehow survive, with Alcácer waiting to pounce.
57'| Turan in for a solid tackle on Machís! Good start for the Turk.
56'| Another change for Barcelona. Rakitic trundles off and Arda Turan sprints on.
55'| Suárez off and it's Alcácer who comes on!
54'| GOOOOOAAAALLL! Messi into the top right hand corner. Great penalty! Serantes guessed correctly, but he was never getting to that.
54'| Buztinaza booked
53'| NEYMAR puts the turbo on and gets in behind the defence, only to be hauled down by Bustinaza! PENALTY!
52'| Neymar fouled. That's a sore one on his left ankle. He's left clutching it in pain.
50'| Pérez now knocks Suárez over in the midfield. The Uruguayan is none too happy about that and has a moan to anyone who'll listen. He wins the foul, but nothing more.
49'| Ruben Pérez has an optimistic hit, alas for him optimism is all it had, Ter Stegen watches it trundle past, miles away from the goal.
48'| Barcelona play it around the back, meaning the Leganés fans get lots of chances to whistle Piqué every time he touches the ball.
47'| Umtiti has to go off for treatment, he took a knock in that Kone move.
47'| Kone! Great position at the top of the box having turned Piqué, but he blasts at Ter Stegen who gathers.
46'| Turan and Alcacer are warming up for Barcelona...
45'| Off we go!
Teams are back out at Butarque! Half-time change for Leganés: Medjani off and Pérez, on loan from Granada, on.
Leganés 0-3 Barcelona half-time
Leganés started brilliantly, putting Barcelona under so much pressure they couldn't find their rhythm, or any way of getting the ball to the MSN. But they failed to make their dominance count, and on Barcelona's first real break they hit the home side with a sucker punch. Suárez besting his man down the right to set up Messi for a tap in.
Leganés kept going at Barcelona, and made chances, particularly through Machís, by far Leganés best player (helped by playing mostly against Mascherano who was out of position regularly), but it was Luis Enrique's side who grabbed a second, Messi this time turning provider, as he scythed his way through the heart of the home defence and laid off to Suárez who tapped home.
Leganés naively played into Barcelona's hands just before half-time, when they pushed their defence up to try and find a way through the Barcelona midfield, but only ended up giving the ball away and could only watch on helplessly as Suárez strode through on goal before slipping the ball to Neymar for a tap-in. That's the first time each of the MSN have scored in the first half in LaLiga.
Three-nil at half-time and the main question is whether Leganés continue to look for something or shut up shop and try to limit the final damage.
Leganés 0-3 Barcelona live: first half
Peep! That's half-time!
45'| Medjani misses a great chance at the back post!
43'| Leganés struggling to find an outlet they give the ball away and.... GOOOOOAAAAL! NEYMAR! Leganés had their defence pushed too high, Barça nicked the ball, Suárez drove through and laid off to Neymar who slotted home. Too easy for Barcelona.
41'| Mascherano goes for route 1 football under pressure at the back, but his long, long ball is way beyond any Barcelona player and Leganés head back to their keeper.
40'| Messi a midfield general, getting, laying off, getting it back and nearly inventing a superb move that sees Barcelona one touch away from getting in behind the Leganés defence. Great football.
39'| The MSN on the attack, Neymar to Messi, who comes up with a neat chip to Suárez, but he can't find an outlet from the left and Leganés hoof it clear. Agricultural but effective.
38'| Dangerous cross in for Leganés, but Mascherano just gets there in time to kill the danger. Leganés are not lying down.
34'| Skills from Iniesta, feet like a ballet dancer, twirling through the midfield!
33'| How did Machís not score for Leganés?! In behind Mascherano, hits his first shot at Ter Stegen and then fires the rebound at a sprawling Umtiti. Barça survive!
31'| Ter Stegen comes and misses, but Kone can't get a shot on target.
30'| GOOOOOOAAAAAL! Barcelona make it 2!! Suárez this time tapping home after Messi had done all the work to rip his way through the Leganés defence.
30'| Sastre hauls Neymar down and the Brazilian has a right moan to the referee, demanding a booking. Piqué runs over to get involved.
28'| Machís nearly gets through behind Mascherano who just saves the situation. Machís goes down as they vie for the ball and claims a foul (and replays show Mascherano didn't touch the ball...) but the ref waves play on. That was dangerous for Barcelona.
26'| Yellow for Medjani! Scythes Rafinha. The Barcelona player left holding his thigh after that challenge.
23'| Rakitic booked! For a cynical foul as Machís broke.
22'| What a save from Serantes! To prevent an own goal too.
21'| All a bit scrappy. Rafinha loses the ball, Messi wins it back down the right, he's dispossessed under the attentions of three defenders, claims a foul, but it's waved away. Leganés try and start something, but Mascherano breaks that up and Barcelona start again...
20'| Possession: Leganés 39:61 Barcelona
19'| Neymar! Hits a volley into the ground and over. Rafinha cut back to Suárez on the right, who clipped a sweet cross to Neymar at the back post. Close to two for Barça!
18'| Machís spins Umtiti in the box, but he can't beat Piqué too. Neat feet though from the Venezuelan.
16'| Dangerous free-kick on the edge of the area for Leganés, but Unai can't get it over the wall. Corner for Leganés, but it comes to nothing.
14'| GOOOOAAAAL! Messi! Suárez rounds Bustinaza down the right and plays it inside for Messi to tap home! Leganés caught terribly exposed there and Barcelona made them pay. That's Messi's first ever goal against Leganés. (This is the first time he's played them...)
13'| Then Barça break up to the other end and it's Messi! Shot blocked!
13'| Medjani! Header over for Leganés.
12'| Umtiti and Ter Stegen have a communication breakdown and neither goes for a ball trundling into the Barça box with a couple of Leganés players haring after it. Eventually Ter Stegen clears!
11'| Leganés NEARLY CAUGHT OUT... Suárez runs in behind the defence, but he's just a smidgen offside!
10'| But there's the danger... Messi strides into the box and it takes three Leganés defenders to nab the ball off him.
9'| Barcelona are really struggling to settle here, can't get a foot on the ball as Leganés' pressing game is working a treat.
8'| Leganés through... Machis gets a shot away from the top of the box, but that's GREAT covering from Piqué to get the block in. Leganés recycle but the final effort is skewed well wide.
6'| Piqué has to pass back to Ter Stegen and he has a wobbly moment as he has to clear a bouncing ball with an attacker bearing down on him. Gets it away in the end.
4'| Neymar finally gets the ball and moves forward, lays off to Messi, but he's instantly tackled! Leganés are well up for this, but how long can they keep this work rate up for?
3'| It's all Leganés at the moment, with coach Garitano and the Leganés crowd urging them on. Messi, Neymar and Suárez are waiting up front for Barcelona to try and get the ball to them, but so far they haven't been able to.
3' | Machis on a great run down the left! Drives towards the box, but his final ball in is blocked and falls kindly to Ter Stegen.
2'| Legané up straight away and pressing hard. Setting out their stall early - they'll be looking to press Barcelona hard.
1' | Ball back to Piqué and he gets whistled by the Leganés crowd
Kick-off! | Peep! Barcelona get us underway!
3' to go | Hairs standing up on the back of the neck time, as the Leganés crowd give an a cappella version of the club anthem
5' to go | Teams are coming out... great atmosphere in the ground, both sides applauding their supporters.
15' to go | Quarter of an hour to kick-off, and the Butarque stadium is nearly full. It's a sell-out of course. A delightful 19 degrees in Leganés, under a shining Spanish sun.
Confirmed starting line-ups: Leganés vs Barcelona
Leganés starting team
Serantes, Víctor, Bustinza, Medjani, Insua, Rico, Sastre, Unai López, Gabriel, Machís and Kone
Manager: Asier Garitano
Barcelona starting team
Ter Stegen; Mascherano, Piqué, Umtiti, Alba, Rakitic, Iniesta, Rafinha, Messi, Suárez and Neymar
Manager: Luis Enrique
Preview Leganés vs Barcelona
Barcelona return to LaLiga duty after their free-scoring festival of football against hapless Celtic, but the memory of their defeat to minnows Alavés at the Camp Nou last weekend will still be painfully fresh in the mind for Luis Enrique's men. And while Leganés are one of the Spanish top flight's smallest teams, they've already managed a surprise draw against Atlético and will be playing in front of a full house, full of their fans urging them to take a big scalp.
Leganés
This will be Leganés' second game in their own stadium in the top flight, and once again the ground will be completely sold out, providing the team with a huge motivation to get something against champions Barcelona.
Garitano, as usual, hasn't given any clues in his training sessions leading up to the match, but it would be no surprise if he plays with four or five defenders. Either way, expect ferociously firm defending, as we've seen so far from in the league, led by Serantes who is in fine form. Up front Guerrero will lead the charge to try and snatch an unlikely goal, or two.
Barcelona
The slip-up against Alavés is a mistake that, in what's expected to be a very tight campaign, could prove very costly for Luis Enrique's men. And so they won't want to take their eye off the ball for a second against another recently promoted side.
The 7-0 thrashing of Celtic has settled the atmosphere at Barça, and they'll head out at Butarque keen to rack up another big score.
Luis Enrique will continue rotating, but that said, Messi, Suárez and Neymar, the most feared trident in the current game, will start again after Tuesday night's exhibition. Among the changes, Denis Suárez will come in for Andre Gomes, Mathieu for Umtiti and Mascherano for Busquets.
Leganés v Barcelona live
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