The clash between Leganes and Getafe is opening the third round of the Spanish La Liga, which is going to be their first match after thirteen years. The last time they played against each other in 2003/04 season, it was in the Spanish La Liga 2 when Getafe won 3:1 at home after a 0:0 draw in the first part of the season. This time they meet each other in the top Spanish League after Getafe secured a promotion last year. Both teams are expected to fight against relegation, so it should be a tight and entertaining clash.
LEGANES vs. GETAFE
Three-way: 1: Leganes +121; X: +250 Draw; 2: Getafe +312
Spread -0.5: Leganes +114; Getafe -120
Total +2: Over -104; Under +102
LEGANES
CD Leganes made a perfect start of the new season with two wins in the first two La Liga matches without conceding a goal. They managed to score only two goals, but it was enough to get maximum six points after 1:0 wins over Alaves and Espanyol. Although the starting win against Alaves at home was quite expected, they surprised everyone by beating Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona.
In the opening game of the new La Liga season, Leganes looked well organized at the back, like they played throughout the last season. They created a few chances but a goal came from Gabriel after a deflected shot, and only seven minutes behind Alaves’ missed penalty. The winning goal against Espanyol, in the second round, was pretty much the same. Espanyol’s keeper made two excellent saves before the Leganes’ central defender Martin Mantovani smashed the ball into the net.
The Leganes’ manager, Asier Garitano, can be pleased with the defensive display of his team, as they allowed only a few dangerous chances to their rivals. Leganes’ defending was quite impressing, especially against favored Espanyol. But they were also lucky in the 55th minute when Leo Baptistao was all alone in the six-yard box, but his header finished off target. Leganes played patiently, and they had a couple of chances, particularly in the first fifteen minutes when Javier Eraso was the closest to score.
Garitano’s boys managed to get the goal first in both games, and what is the most important thing – they successfully defended their lead. Against Alaves in front of the home fans they played more fluently, but against Espanyol, they left the ball possession to the opposition. It is the way Leganes played last season as visitors, and they won’t step back this year.
The Leganes manager decided to start both games with the same starting eleven, who seemed like a well-coordinated team playing in a 4-5-1 formation. The midfielder Javier Eraso arrived from Athletic Bilbao this summer (he already played for Leganes in the 2014/15 season when he scored eight goals), and he’s adding the strength to Leganes’ midfield along with Ruben Perez. Alexander Szymanowski, Miguel Guerrero, and Gabriel were main threats for Alaves’ and Espanyol’s defenders, and Leganes’ fans expect to see more from them in the coming games.
We expect to see the same starting eleven again on Friday, while the midfielder David Timor and the defender Dimitrios Siovas are still unavailable due to injuries.
GETAFE
After an unexpected 0:0 draw against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames in the first round of the 2017/18 La Liga season (last 25 minutes they played with ten men, after Guerrero’s second yellow card), Getafe was defeated with 1:0 by Sevilla in the second round at the home stadium. At San Mames, they defended bravely and earned a point, while against Sevilla they were a team with better goal scoring opportunities, especially in the first half when they had two excellent chances to take the lead.
Getafe started aggressively and in the 17th minute of the game Amath, who arrived from Atletico Madrid this summer, had the best possible chance to score, after a brilliant Molina’s through pass, but the Senegalese’s poor shot went way over. In the 37th minute they’ve changed roles, and after a great Amath’s through pass, Jorge Molina had a one-on-one situation with Sergio Rico. This time, the Sevilla’s goalkeeper made a crucial save.
The Azulones played well at the back for almost 175 minutes, and it looked like another goalless draw. However, six minutes before the end, they had to kneel after Mercado’s cross and Ganso’s magical left foot shot. Getafe certainly didn’t deserve to lose this game, but they couldn’t get a goal till the end. It was a disappointing result after a good performance and a goalless start of the season. Surely, it’s not a bad start, with one point in the bag from two difficult matches.
Amath showed he could be an excellent addition to the team, and another arrival from Tenerife, Japanese midfielder Gaku Shibasaki, also played well. The main force in the attack is still the 35-year old Jorge Molina, who had some great moves in the first two rounds of the new La Liga season but didn’t manage to score. The whole team failed to score, but against Sevilla they proved they can make chances against fierce rivals.
Alvaro Guerrero missed the last game after the red card in the first round against Bilbao, and he’s expected to be in the starting lineup against Leganes. Striker Dani Pacheco is still unavailable due to injury.
Leganes vs. Getafe – MATCH PREDICTION
The clash between Leganes and Getafe is one of those matchups that will be hard to predict. Leganes made an excellent start to the new La Liga season, and they will be looking to stay undefeated as slight favorites in front of the home fans. On the other side, Getafe will look for their first goal of the season, and after a good display against Sevilla, they will try to get something from this match.
I would predict an exciting and very close game, and if Getafe plays like in the previous rounds, they can get a draw from this one. It should really be a tight match, but if one of the teams get an early goal, we can see a great match on Friday. Getafe didn’t score in the first two games, so maybe it is time to get a goal against Leganes, who didn’t concede a goal yet.
With all being said, the safest bet here is to go with Both teams to score with the game finishing in a draw.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (+127)
Additional Pick: Draw X (+250)
