Leganés Faces Vital Match for Survival Against Valladolid

MADRID, Spain — Club Deportivo Leganés will fight for its survival in La Liga today against Real Valladolid at Butarque Stadium at 6:30 PM CET. After finishing as leaders in the Segunda División, Leganés needs a win to stay in the top tier of Spanish football.

Borja Jiménez, the head coach, stated in a press conference, “The book we wrote last year was beautiful, a fairy tale from start to finish. This year, the ending will depend on us. We aim for the second chapter to leave a sweet taste.” Jiménez hopes to avoid a repeat of the team’s relegation five seasons ago.

In July 2020, Leganés faced a similar situation when they attempted to secure their place in La Liga. They finished their last match that season with a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid, who had already secured the title. That season, Leganés ended up with just 36 points, leading to their relegation.

As of today, Leganés has 37 points from 37 matches this season, with eight wins, 13 draws, and 16 losses. The stakes are high as they anticipate results from other matches, especially the Espanyol vs. Las Palmas game happening simultaneously.

“We have to win, regardless of what happens in Cornellà,” Jiménez mentioned. He reflects on his team’s recent performances, describing them as deserving of better results. Meanwhile, Espanyol has lost its last five matches, which complicates the situation for them as well.

The current standings raise the pressure for all involved. As Leganés looks to avoid following in the footsteps of teams relegated in past seasons, it remains to be seen whether they can succeed in their critical match.