Barcelona vs Leganes Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona remain at the top-of-the-table in La Liga but performances and results have been faltering over the last month or so as they now face Leganes in Catalonia.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 15th December, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Barcelona vs Leganes may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Barcelona Preview: Wobbling Blaugrana
After a relentless start to the campaign in which Barcelona were free scoring and slick under Hansi Flick, they have now started to wobble in La Liga’s title race with just one victory in their last five matches in Spain’s top-flight, seemingly out of nowhere.
The very high line did show signs of being exposed before the run but not to this extent. They come into this one on the back of a 2-2 draw with Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin in Andalusia last weekend in which Betis scored a 94th minute equaliser via Assane Diao.
Leganes Preview: Lega’s impressive style
Following their promotion back to then top-flight last season, Leganes decided to stick with Borja Jimenez over the summer and he has still looked to implement his progressive, passing style of football despite playing at a higher level this time around.
Things started quite slowly for Lega but they have steadily improved to move away from the bottom three and the relegation places. They were most recently, though, on the receiving end of a 3-0 shellacking to an improving Real Sociedad side at Butarque last weekend.
Barcelona Team News: Key injuries
Germany international goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is out for the season with key men such as Ronald Araujo and Marc Bernal also still sidelined. There is an over-reliance on 17-year-old attacker Lamine Yamal for Barcelona.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Inaki Pena; Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Alex Balde; Pedri, Marc Casado, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Unavailable: Ter Stegen (Injured), Ronald Araujo (Injured), Christensen (Injured), Marc Bernal (Injured), Ansu Fati (Injured)
Questionable:
Leganes Team News: No Rosier
Ivory Coast international striker and summer signing Sebastian Haller is an injury doubt for Leganes this weekend alongside both Darko Brasanac and Dani Raba, whilst defender Valentin Rosier is now unavailable due to suspension.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Dmitrovic; Andre Altimira, Sergio, Nastasic, Javi Hernandez; Renato Tapia, Neyou; Dani Garcia, Oscar, Cisse; Miguel de la Fuente
Unavailable: Rosier (Suspended), Enric Franquesa (Injured)
Questionable: Brasanac (Injured), Dani Raba (Injured), Haller (Injured)
Barcelona vs Leganes Prediction
Barcelona need to find a spark to get themselves into the January winter break with a comfortable lead at the top-of-the-table once again with Barca in danger of undoing the brilliant work done in the early autumn. They face a Leganes side that are smart and will believe they can get in behind the high line of the Barca defence but this is a game, especially at home, that the Blaugrana should romp to victory in as we head into winter.
Barcelona vs Leganes Tip: Barcelona to win -1 handicap
