La Liga Preview: Leganés Shows Signs of Struggle in Return to La Liga, Las Palmas Sees Opportunity for Victory

On August 26 at 1:00 AM, the second round of the 2024/25 La Liga season will see Leganés return home to face Las Palmas. In the first round, both teams settled for draws. Leganés drew 1-1 with Osasuna, while Las Palmas drew 2-2 with Sevilla. While they did not secure a win to start the new season, the draw was an acceptable result.

As newly promoted to La Liga, Leganés ceded possession in their first match against Osasuna, adopting a more defensive stance to catch their opponent off guard. With less than 40% possession, they created ten goal-scoring opportunities, three of which were highly threatening and resulted in one goal. To some extent, luck was on Leganés’ side as Osasuna hit the woodwork twice, and goalkeeper Soriano’s outstanding performance contributed to securing a draw.

The match between Las Palmas and Sevilla was thrilling. Both teams combined for four goals, each contributing an own goal. Las Palmas had fifteen shots, three fewer than Sevilla, but matched them with five on target. The game demonstrated that the two teams were evenly matched, both having chances to end the other’s hopes.

This summer transfer window saw Leganés make only minor adjustments to their squad. They paid €2 million to Alavés for striker De la Fuente, €1 million to Real Betis for winger Cruz, and signed seven players on free transfers. Given their limited financial resources, a relatively conservative transfer strategy is more beneficial for stabilizing their position in La Liga. Coach Giménez faces considerable pressure with a limited roster. To make a name for themselves in the competitive La Liga, they need more than just skill; they also need luck.

In comparison, Las Palmas also made no significant moves, ending up with a surplus of €3.5 million. They acquired Pak from Real Madrid’s reserve team for €1.5 million, signed winger Foster from Albacete for €1.5 million, and goalkeeper Cillessen from NEC Nijmegen for €0.5 million. They also sold Kokko to Torino for €7.5 million. Coach Miguel largely retained the main lineup from last season, making only slight reinforcements. It must be said that Las Palmas impressed last season, but relying on the same tactics this season may not be realistic.

Historically, the two teams have met 30 times, with eight wins each and fourteen draws. They have faced each other multiple times in the Segunda División. In their last five meetings, Leganés has one win, one draw, and three losses, showing a clear disadvantage. This record aligns with the general perception of the teams’ relative strengths. After all, Las Palmas has been the Segunda División champion four times, while Leganés has done so only once.

Leganés, newly promoted to La Liga this season, is still adapting to the league’s intensity and needs time to determine its survival strategy. In their first game, they seemed hesitant, revealing signs of struggle. Las Palmas, after a season of experience, performed more confidently. However, according to various Spanish media outlets, both Leganés and Las Palmas are considered among the favorites for relegation this season. Of course, the season is long, and it’s too early to draw conclusions. If this match is seen as a prelude to a critical relegation battle, it presents an excellent opportunity to gauge which team has a better chance of staying in La Liga.

>>More predictions and analysis for this match can be found here>>>