Sports Mole previews Sunday’s La Liga clash between Leganes and Las Palmas, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two teams that drew their opening games of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign will lock horns at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Sunday evening, with Leganes welcoming Las Palmas.
Leganes, who are the reigning Segunda Division champions, drew 1-1 with Osasuna in their season opener, while Las Palmas played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Sevilla.
Match preview
© Imago
Leganes took the lead in the 22nd minute of their clash with Osasuna last Saturday, with Juan Cruz making the breakthrough, but an own goal from Juan Soriano in the 79th minute saw the points shared at El Sadar.
El Lega won the 2023-24 Segunda Division to secure a return to this level, and they will be aiming to make it back-to-back campaigns in the top flight for the first time since 2020.
Borja Jimenez‘s side have brought 12 new players to the club this summer, while there have been 10 departures, so there is certainly a fresh look to the squad from last season.
Leganes have not actually tackled Las Palmas in La Liga since February 2018, when the points were shared in a goalless draw, with each of their last six meetings taking place in the Segunda Division.
El Lega are winless in their last three matches with Las Palmas, with their last victory over Sunday’s opponents proving to be a 4-1 success in the second tier back in November 2021.
© Imago
Las Palmas, meanwhile, were involved in an entertaining clash with Sevilla on August 16; Luis Carrion‘s side twice fell behind on home soil, but they answered back on both occasions to claim a point in a 2-2 draw.
Pio Pio finished 16th in La Liga last season to secure a second straight campaign in the top flight, and they will now be bidding to make it three in a row for the first time since 2018.
Los Amarillos have also had a busy summer in terms of the transfer market, with 12 new players arriving, while 10 have left, including Saul Coco, who has made the move to Torino.
Las Palmas are expected to be one of the clubs in and around the bottom three come the end of the season, but the same can also be said for Leganes, so the two games between the two sides this term could be crucial.
Carrion is a new arrival at the club, with the 45-year-old taking charge after one season at Oviedo, and this is his first experience of managing at the highest level.
Leganes La Liga form:
Las Palmas La Liga form:
Team News
© Imago
Leganes will be missing Jorge Saenz on Sunday due to a shoulder problem, but the home side are otherwise in excellent shape heading into their second game of the new La Liga campaign.
There is every chance that head coach Jimenez will name an unchanged side, with Miguel de la Fuente certain to lead the line, while Cruz should continue in a wide area.
Dani Raba is perhaps the player pushing strongest to break into the XI, but Enric Franquesa and Seydouba Cisse are both expected to keep hold of their starting roles against Las Palmas.
The visitors were missing four players for their season opener, with Fabio Gonzalez, Pejino, Daley Sinkgraven and Adnan Januzaj on the sidelines, and they are also expected to miss out this weekend.
Head coach Carrion is expected to make at least one change to the side that started against Sevilla, with Sandro Ramirez in line for a spot in the XI due to his strong performance and goal off the bench.
Jaime Mata is likely to be the player to drop down to the bench, but Oli McBurnie should continue in the final third, while Alberto Moleiro is set to retain his spot down the left.
Leganes possible starting lineup:
Soriano; Rosier, Arambarri, Gonzalez, Hernandez; Brasanac, Neyou; Cruz, Cisse, Franquesa; De la Fuente
Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Park, A Suarez, Marmol, A Munoz; Loiodice, K Rodriguez; Ramirez, J Munoz, Moleiro; McBurnie
We say: Leganes 0-0 Las Palmas
The last La Liga meeting between these two sides finished 0-0, while that was also the score when they last locked horns in the second tier in February 2023. It would not be a shock to see a home or indeed an away win, but we are expecting the points to be shared on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.