Barcelona Beats Leganés 1-0 Thanks to Own Goal

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Barcelona Beats Leganés 1-0 Thanks to Own Goal \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Barcelona escaped with a 1-0 win over struggling Leganés, relying on a second-half own goal. Raphinha starred with an assist and defensive grit, helping extend Barça’s unbeaten run. Elsewhere, Espanyol and Mallorca grabbed key away wins to fuel their climbs up the table.

Quick Looks

Barcelona edges Leganés 1-0 with a Jorge Sáenz own goal in the 48th minute.
Raphinha’s cross sets up the decisive moment and adds to his standout season.
Barça now leads La Liga by seven points over Real Madrid.
Hasni Flick’s side remains unbeaten in 24 straight matches.
Barcelona preparing to face Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday after 4-0 first-leg win.
Leganés, 19th in the table, created more chances but lacked finishing power.
Alejandro Balde exited early with a leg injury; medical update pending.
Gerard Martín’s pressing play led to the only goal after replacing Balde.
Espanyol wins 2-0 at Celta Vigo with two goals from Roberto Fernández.
Mallorca and Las Palmas also secured crucial away victories.

Deep Look

FC Barcelona needed an own goal and gritty defense to squeeze past relegation-battling Leganés in a tense 1-0 away victory on Saturday, keeping its grip on the top of the La Liga standings with just seven matchdays remaining.

Though Hasni Flick’s side was far from its fluent best, Raphinha’s dangerous delivery forced Leganés defender Jorge Sáenz into an own goal early in the second half, which proved to be the difference-maker at Butarque Stadium.

It wasn’t just the result that mattered — Barça’s response under pressure and its ability to grind out wins away from home have been essential to its title challenge.

“These are the games where titles are won,” said defender Éric García. “We needed to put pressure on Madrid, and we’ve done that.”

Unlikely Heroics and Missed Chances

Leganés stunned Barcelona earlier in the season with a 1-0 win at the Olympic Stadium, and they looked poised to repeat the feat. With a compact five-man backline, they stifled Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha, frustrating the visitors for long stretches.

Barcelona’s breakthrough came not from a moment of brilliance but from relentless pressing and a mistake. In the 48th minute, substitute Gerard Martín recovered possession high up the pitch and fed Raphinha, whose driven cross ricocheted off Sáenz and into his own net.

Leganés refused to fold. Diego García narrowly missed the equalizer with a curling strike, while Munir El Haddadi was denied late on by a last-ditch tackle from Íñigo Martínez.

“That slide felt like scoring a goal—or better,” Martínez said after the match.

Despite the scare, the win extends Barcelona’s unbeaten streak to 24 matches in all competitions and preserves a seven-point cushion atop La Liga, at least temporarily.

Injury Concerns Ahead of Champions League Clash

There was concern for Barcelona as Alejandro Balde limped off in the first half. Flick confirmed the injury “didn’t look good,” and further evaluation is scheduled for Sunday. Balde’s status for the Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Borussia Dortmund is now uncertain.

Barcelona leads that tie 4-0 and will head to Germany with one foot already in the semifinals, but Flick emphasized the need to stay focused.

“What the players have done in recent months is incredible. This win was very important,” the manager said.

La Liga Table: The Pressure Builds

Real Madrid plays Alavés on Sunday, with the chance to reduce the gap again. A much-anticipated El Clásico still awaits in the final stretch of the campaign, meaning every point matters.

Leganés, meanwhile, remain in 19th place, two points from safety. Despite the loss, they showed quality and determination against elite opposition.

“We gave everything,” said Renato Tapia. “It’s frustrating not to be rewarded after playing well.”

La Liga Round-Up: Espanyol, Mallorca and Las Palmas Victorious

Espanyol Continues Revival

Roberto Fernández, on loan from Braga, struck twice to guide Espanyol to a vital 2-0 away win at Celta Vigo. The performance solidified Espanyol’s momentum under coach Manolo González, who has now lost just two of his last 12 league matches — including a win over Madrid and a draw against Atletico.

Goalkeeper Joan García, the league leader in saves, again proved pivotal with a stunning stop to deny Iago Aspas.

Espanyol has now climbed to 14th, moving away from the relegation zone.

Mallorca Leapfrogs Sociedad

Cyle Larin and Sergi Darder were on the scoresheet as Mallorca beat Real Sociedad 2-0 in San Sebastián. The win pushes Mallorca into eighth place, overtaking their direct rivals for a potential European qualification spot.

Las Palmas Finally Finds a Win

After a long drought, Las Palmas earned their first victory of 2025, beating Getafe 3-1 away. It was a much-needed three points in their fight to avoid slipping into a relegation battle.