Can Leganes Manage The Great Escape?

The La Liga survival scrap is coming down to the wire, with the final team destined for the drop still to be decided on the final day. We head into gameweek 38 in Spain, with two sides in vastly different form, looking to secure what is necessary on the final day to see them live another year in Spain’s topflight.

(Form via Sofascore)

After being ever-present in the relegation zone since March 14 and being four points off safety with just four games to play, Leganes have the opportunity to pull off an incredible survival story when they host already relegated Real Valladolid at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Saturday evening.

After Four Years Out, Let’s Show Our Worth

Following a four-year hiatus from Spain’s top tier, Leganes will be desperate to maintain their La Liga status for at least another year. It has been a wonderful story for Leganes, from a club who were once on the brink of folding, are now holding their own against Spain’s elite.

2013: Leganes in Spanish Segunda División B.

2014: Promoted to La Liga 2.

2016: Promoted to La Liga for the first time in their history.

2017: Stayed up with the lowest league budget.

2018: Beat Real Madrid to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

What a journey. pic.twitter.com/cpORt6ZUyo

— bet365 (@bet365) January 24, 2018

After being saved by a local couple in 2008, Leganes have never looked back, earning promotion to the second tier in 2014, before entering the promised lands of La Liga just two years later. After an adventurous four-year stay, they did drop back down to the second tier where they were promoted once more after four years, alongside Espanyol- the team they are now fighting with this season for survival.

It has certainly been some stroke of luck for the club, once in financial turmoil, to now this season where they have defeated both Atletico Madrid and Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. They always expected to be in and around this position upon their return, and they have coped with it very well, losing just once in their last six matches, winning two of them- both against relegation rivals at the time in Las Palmas and Espanyol.

Leganes is close to relegation but always manages to win against the big teams💀 pic.twitter.com/DHNr4A80kh

— Berneese (@theberneese) January 18, 2025

Leganes have tallied up 13 draws this season, which some people may look at with first glance believe that this is their problem. What they do not know without delving in however, is their ability to fight back from losing positions. Nine of their 13 draws have been score-draws- six of these nine have Leganes needed to fight back for a crucial point. Six of their eight victories this term they have kept a clean sheet in too- proving their backline always steps up when it needs to.

Midfield Machine

If Leganes are to do their best to stay in the first division on Saturday, it will be their midfield machine Dani Raba, creating key opportunities via the right flank. Now in his third year in the capital, Dani Raba has notched up eight goals and six assists in La Liga this campaign and in recent weeks, has made himself a vital part of the team, scoring five and providing two assists in his last nine games. He will make himself a hero in Butarque if his side manage to stay up on Saturday.

(Stats via Sofascore)

The 29-year-old had never been able to earn regular match minutes, but in his three seasons with Leganes, he has managed to play 30+ in all seasons for the first time in his career. With this, he has grown in confidence and certainly paid back the faith put into him by Borja Jimenez. He has managed 15 goal involvements in all competitions for the second season in a row, making him a crucial player for Leganes.

He has been a very consistent performer throughout this campaign for Leganes too, earning at least 7.0 rating or above in 60% of his games this season, according to Sofascore, and has been a key cog in their offensive drives, allowing him to earn his impressive output in recent seasons.

Is Survival In Reach?

Following Leganés’ impressive 3-2 win over Las Palmas last week, in which was essentially a relegation play-off in the sense that the loser would have their relegation confirmed, it now comes down to two separate matches on the final day.

(Table via BBC Sport)

Leganes face already relegated Real Valladolid, knowing it is must-win, or they are relegated, no matter how Espanyol performs against Las Palmas. Because of Espanyol’s superior goal difference, all they will need is a point in Catalonia against also already relegated Las Palmas.

So, with that, the stage is set for what is sure to be a chaotic but certainly entertaining affairs when these matches both get underway on Saturday 24th at 17:30pm BST. Click the links below for a more specific preview into these do-or-die matches.

Leganes vs Real Valladolid

Espanyol vs Las Palmas