La Liga | Gameweek 35

May 11, 2025 at 1pm UK

Estadio Municipal de Butarque

Leganes vs Espanyol

Match preview

Leganes are locked in a relegation battle heading into the final round of fixtures, with Borja Jimenez's side 19th in the table, having collected 31 points from six wins, 13 draws and 15 defeats in 34 games this season.

El Lega are four points behind 17th-placed Alaves, so it will be a tall order for them to escape the bottom three at this stage, but far from impossible and a win this weekend would be a huge step in the right direction.

The reigning Segunda Division champions go into the match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Sevilla and have lost just one of their last five league games, at home to league leaders Barcelona on 12 April.

However, Leganes have failed to triumph in that time, sharing the points on four occasions, with their last victory coming in a 1-0 home win over Getafe in early March.

Jimenez's side drew 1-1 with Espanyol in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but Leganes have won two of their last three top-flight encounters with their Sunday afternoon opponents.

Espanyol's last away win over Leganes in the Spanish top flight was six years ago, a goalless draw at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque in the 2023-24 Segunda Division.

Manolo Gonzalez's side go into the game on the back of back-to-back defeats to Villarreal and Real Betis, results which have left them slightly in the relegation zone as the season draws to a close.

Espanyol's next game is at home to Barcelona, and they will be desperate not to find themselves in a position where they need points in their final two league games of the season to ensure their safety.

A total of 39 points from 34 games leaves them 14th in the standings, seven points clear of 18th-placed Las Palmas and just five points off a European spot in the Spanish top flight.

Espanyol have taken seven points from their last four away league games, including wins over Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo, and their form has been largely strong after a difficult first half of the season.

Recent Performance

Leganes La Liga form:LDLDDD

Espanyol La Liga form:WWWDLL

Team News

Leganes will welcome back Adria Alti and Seydouba Cisse to the starting line-up on Sunday, with the duo available after serving suspensions in their last outing against Sevilla.

However, Javi Hernandez will be missing through suspension, while Enric Franquesa, Valentin Rosier and Borna Barisic are all on the sidelines through injury.

Munir El Haddadi should shake off the injury he picked up late on against Sevilla, while Matija Nastasic's absence is likely to open up a place in defence.

Espanyol will be without Omar El Hilali through suspension after the defender was shown a yellow card in their last match against Real Betis.

Pol Lozano, Brian Olivan and Jose Gragera are also absent through injury, with the former having been forced off during the Champions League clash with Real Betis.

Alvaro Tejero and Alex Kral are both in contention for a place in the side on Sunday, while Javi Puado and Roberto Fernandez, who have scored 17 goals between them in La Liga this term, will be back in the final third.

Possible starting lineup

Leganes possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Alti, Saenz, Gonzalez, Nastasic; Cruz, Tapia, Cisse, Diomande; El Haddadi, Raba

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

J Garcia; Tejero, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Gonzalez, Kral; Roca, Exposito, Puado; R Fernandez