Top

Leganes up next for Barcelona

Spanish champs wary of Spanish league debutants.

Madrid: Madrid minnows Leganes get their reward for an unlikely promotion to La Liga when the might of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar grace the 11,000-capacity Estadio Butarque on Saturday. Leganes have made a fine start to their first season in the Spanish top-flight, winning at Celta Vigo on the opening weekend and holding Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid to a 0-0 draw at the Butarque.

However, Leganes face an even tougher task in stopping a rampant “MSN” of Messi, Suarez and Neymar fresh from scoring six of Barca’s seven goals in a Champions League rout of Celtic in midweek on their first start of the season together. Barca were in no mood for complacency on Tuesday after a shock 1-2 home defeat to another newly promoted side, Alaves, ended their perfect start to the La Liga season last weekend.

Leganes defender Pablo Insua says the Alaves result gives the hosts hope. Barca boss Luis Enrique started Messi and Suarez on the bench for Alaves’s visit to the Camp Nou after their duties in South American World Cup qualifying. Enrique won’t make the same mistake twice, but could rotate in defence and midfield.

( Source : AFP )
Next Story