Barcelona Faces Relegation-Bound Leganes Amid Injury Concerns

PAMPLONA, Spain — FC Barcelona will look to retain their winning momentum from the UEFA Champions League as they face Leganes in La Liga on Saturday. The match is set to kick off at 8 p.m. GMT (3 p.m. ET) at Estadio Butarque. Barcelona aims to extend their lead over Real Madrid and maintain their pursuit of a treble this season.

Barcelona, fresh off a commanding 4-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg, seeks to distance themselves at the top of the La Liga table. Victorious in their last league match, the Catalan giants could move seven points clear of their Madrid rivals with a win.

Leganes, on the other hand, is in dire straits, currently sitting 18th in the league table, two points adrift of safety. After a 1-1 draw against Osasuna, they hope to build on their previous result as they fight against relegation. The last time the two teams met, Leganes shocked Barcelona with a 1-0 victory in December.

As Barcelona prepares for this pivotal match, they will have to navigate a challenging injury list. Midfielder Dani Olmo is sidelined with a muscle injury, while goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and midfielders Marc Casado and Marc Bernal are also unavailable due to knee issues. Coach Hansi Flick may opt to rotate his squad, especially with more fixtures on the horizon, including the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.

Barcelona’s predicted lineup includes Wojciech Szczesny in goal, supported by defenders Jules Kounde, Ousmane Dembélé, Ronald Araújo, and Alejandro Balde. Frenkie de Jong and Pedri will anchor the midfield, with Lamine Yamal, Gavi, and Raphinha supporting forward Ferran Torres.

On Leganes’ side, manager Borja Jimenez has only two injury concerns. Both Enric Franquesa and Borna Barisic are unavailable due to long-term injuries. However, the return of Oscar Rodriguez from suspension adds a boost to their attacking options.

Leganes is expected to field a defensive lineup, likely with goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic, defenders Rosier, Stefan Savić, Matija Nastasic, and Cristian Tapia. The midfield will see Daniel Raba and Alain Cissé at its helm, supported by Javier Hernandez and forwards Raba and Naupala.

“It’s a must-win for us,” Jimenez said during a press conference. “We need to draw from past performances and show that we can challenge top teams like Barcelona.”

If Barcelona manages to secure all three points, they will strengthen their position significantly in the title race as Leganes will look for any opportunity to escape the relegation zone. The match is crucial for both teams, albeit for drastically different reasons.

The kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET. Viewers in the U.S. can watch the match on ESPN Deportes.