Barcelona vs Leganes predictions, head-to-head and match preview for this Thursday’s game in the Copa del Rey. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as the Catalans aim to bounce back from a poor weekend defeat.
Barcelona vs Leganes Preview
This is match four for Quique Setien as Barcelona boss and it’s pretty safe to say that any honeymoon period is already over. They’ll be strongly expected to see off Leganes again here but depending on how seriously Javier Aguirre decides to take the match, the South Madrid side could prove stubborn opponents for Barcelona, especially if their weekend showing at the Wanda Metropolitano is anything to go by.
Barça were really poor at the Mestalla last time out and could easily have lost by more than just two goals. It was a performance and result that has really set the alarm bells ringing with some key games coming up. This isn’t one of them but anything other than victory would pile even more pressure on Setien as he tries to implement his ideas further on this team.
Leganes also have other priorities. They are second bottom of La Liga but they did fight hard to get a point away to Atletico Madrid last time out. They have overall improved since the appointment of Aguirre and they’ve only lost 1 of their last 9 matches in all competitions. However it’s still looking a pretty bleak picture for them in terms of their survival prospects and in many respects, the last thing they need is a long cup run with their squad having been further depleted this month.
The visitors are likely to rotate quite heavily and are certain to park the bus judging by the way Barcelona are moving the ball slowly and struggling to break teams down. They may gamble on playing their most threatening forward Martin Braithwaite and see if they can nick a goal on the break.
Barcelona meanwhile may also shuffle the pack but they are short on options in attack right now so it could be that both Leo Messi and Antoine Griezmann start this one.
Barcelona vs Leganes Predictions
Score Prediction: 2-0 Barcelona
Had Leganes been in a different position in the league, they might have made this really difficult for Barcelona here. However their plight means it is likely to be a weakened eleven for the visitors and it’s hard to see them living with even an under-performing Barcelona side.
Barcelona vs Leganes Betting Tips
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Barcelona vs Leganes H2H
- Last 6 meetings: 5 Barça Wins, 1 Leganes Win.
- Leganes’ last victory in the fixture was a 2-1 triumph at Butarque in 2018.
- However Barcelona have won all of the other 6 meetings this century.
- All those games were in La Liga.
Predicted Line Ups
Barcelona Team:
Ter Stegen – Semedo, Lenglet, Umtiti, Firpo – Rakitic, Vidal, Puig – Messi, Griezmann, Fati (4-3-3)
Leganes Team:
Soriano – Rosales, Bustinza, Tarin, Awaziem, Silva – Kevin Rodrigues, Eraso, Perez, Ruibal – Braithwaite (5-4-1)
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