Real Madrid moved above Valencia into third position in La Liga courtesy of a 3-1 win over Leganes at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Wednesday afternoon.
The match was Real Madrid's game in hand following their involvement in the 2017 Club World Cup, and the victory ensured that they would close the gap on second-placed Atletico Madrid to seven points.
That said, the gap from third-placed Los Blancos to league leaders Barcelona is still a huge 14 points.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Estadio Municipal de Butarque as Leganes welcome Real Madrid. This match is Real Madrid's game in hand following their involvement in the Club World Cup in the latter stages of 2017. It is time to catch up on the rest, and a win for the visitors would see them move Valencia into third position. Stay tuned!
Real Madrid recorded a 4-2 victory when they travelled to Leganes in the league last season, and also ran out 1-0 winners when they visited this stadium in the Copa del Rey last month. That said, Leganes famously won 2-1 at the Bernabeu in the second leg of their quarter-final tie to advance to the last four. Can the Madrid minnows upset the Madrid giants once again? We will soon find out.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news for this match. Real Madrid will enter the match off the back of a 5-3 win at Real Betis on Sunday, but Leganes suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Girona on Friday night. Any changes? Let's have a look...
TEAMS!
LEGANES: Cuellar; Tito, Siovas, Bustinza, Rico; Gabriel, Gumbau, Eraso; Ramos, Beauvue, El Zhar
REAL MADRID: Casilla; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Theo; Casemiro, Kovacic, Isco; Asensio, Benzema, Lucas
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has made five changes to the team that started Sunday's 5-3 win over Real Betis, with Kiko Casilla, Raphael Varane, Theo Hernandez, Isco and Karim Benzema all coming into the team. Cristiano Ronaldo is left out altogether as the Portuguese is given a rest, while Toni Kroos, Marcelo and Luka Modric all miss out through injury. Gareth Bale is among the substitutes here.
As for Leganes, Claudio Beauvue will again led the line with support from Nabil El Zhar. Nordin Amrabat started in the Copa del Rey second leg at the Bernabeu last month, but the Turkish attacker is on the bench here as Omar Ramos is given a spot in the final third of the field.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now 40 minutes from kickoff in the Spanish capital. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's start with Real Madrid. As mentioned, Zidane's side will enter this match off the back of a 5-3 win at Real Betis on Sunday night.
The victory was Real Madrid's 13th in the league this season, and it moved them onto 45 points. They will enter this match just one point off third-placed Valencia, but are 10 points off second-placed Atletico Madrid, and an incredible 17 points behind league leaders Barcelona. There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a disappointing La Liga season for the champions.
It has been a good couple of weeks, however, with Real Madrid putting five past Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu on February 10 before recording a 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League last week. As a result, Los Blancos have put themselves in a good position to make the quarter-finals at the expense of the much-fancied French outfit.
It might well be that Zidane has to win the Champions League for a third straight season to save his job. Indeed, Real Madrid might have to settle for third in La Liga, while they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Leganes. There will be big changes at the end of the season, and it remains to be seen whether Zidane loses his position following a disappointing title defence.
In terms of what is ahead for Real Madrid, they will welcome Alaves in the league this weekend before travelling to Espanyol on February 27. Getafe will then visit the Bernabeu at the start of March before the small matter of a trip to Paris on March 6 for the second leg of their last-16 European tie.
As for Leganes, Asier Garitano's side will enter this match in 13th position in the table on 29 points. They have won eight, drawn five and lost 10 of their 23 league fixtures this term, and are currently 11 points clear of the relegation zone. Overall, it has been an impressive season to this point.
Leganes have won five of their 10 home league games this season, meanwhile, suffering just three defeats in the process. Their results have been disappointing in recent weeks, however, with their Copa del Rey elimination to Sevilla followed by league defeats to Eibar and Girona without scoring a goal.
Leganes have only won once since they beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu towards the end of last month, and they have some tough fixtures coming up, with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid their opponents in two of their next three matches. Garitano needs to be careful that results do not spiral. Right, the two sets of players have joined us on the pitch here. Kickoff is imminent!
KICKOFF! Real Madrid kick things off here...
... it is a beautiful early evening in Madrid, and the home supporters have turned out in their numbers. It should be an open and entertaining game of football from the Spanish capital.
Not too much to report in the early stages of the match, but Real Madrid are having most of the ball as they pass and probe in Leganes' half of the field. Fairly low-key start to events in this one.
Cuellar keeps out a long-range strike from Casemiro, which had the direction but not the power.
GOAL! Leganes 1-0 Real Madrid (Bustinza)
Oh my word! Leganes make the breakthrough in the sixth minute as a corner into the Real Madrid box causes all sorts of problems, and Bustinza actually throws his head at a clearance from Theo, and the ball drops over the line. Quite a bizarre goal, but the centre-back has a massive goal!
Real Madrid have had a lot of the ball in the opening nine minutes, but Leganes have the lead, and the home side look confident when they have the chance to break forward. Good tempo here.
Ramos heads straight at Cuellar as Real Madrid threaten from a corner. Just a few signs that the away side are warming to their task as Isco and Asensio pick up little pockets of space here.
GOAL! Leganes 1-1 Real Madrid (Lucas)
Real Madrid level the scores in the 11th minute as Lucas collects a pass from Kovacic before finding the bottom corner with a super finish. Casemiro actually stepped over the pass from Kovacic!
Well, plenty to talk about in the opening 13 minutes of this match then. I had a feeling that it would be open and entertaining, and that has been the case. More of the same please.
Leganes make good ground down the left, but Varane is across to make a smart challenge just before Ramos had threatened to break free. El Zhar then delivers into Casilla's arms from the right.
SAVE! Asensio shows super feet to break into the Leganes box after smart work from Lucas, but the Spain international can only strike straight into the body of the home side's stopper!
I would be very surprised if we had seen the last of the goals tonight as both teams continue to commit players in the final third of the field. Leganes are still a threat, but it would be fair to say that Real Madrid are the team looking most likely with 19 minutes on the clock in the capital.
We have not seen too much from Benzema in the first 21 minutes of this match, but Lucas and Asensio have been bright for the visitors. Beauvue has also been a threat for the home side here.
The home supporters are in fine voice at the moment as the sun starts to set in the Spanish capital. It really is a wonderful early evening in Madrid, and the conditions are perfect for a game of football. The entertainment value is still there as both teams continue to have their moments.
Rico breaks down the left for the home side before looking to deliver, but the number 15 is just knocked off-balance at the vital moment, and he can only fire into the stands. Still 1-1 in Madrid.
Benzema is just ruled offside following a smart pass from Isco, who has been quiet in the first 27 minutes of this match. Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes here.
Just a reminder that a win for Real Madrid would see them move above Valencia into third, and they would also move to within seven points of second-placed Atletico. Barcelona though would still be 14 points clear at the summit. The title is gone, but Real Madrid will want to catch Atletico.
GOAL! Leganes 1-2 Real Madrid (Casemiro)
Real Madrid score their second in the 29th minute as Casemiro strokes the ball into the bottom corner following an excellent move involving Benzema and Lucas. What was he doing there?!
Leganes just need to be careful that this match does not get away from them as Real Madrid continue to move the ball in the final third of the field. Isco has come into the game in the last five minutes or so, while Lucas is very bright in a wide area. Zidane will be pleased with what he is seeing here.
Isco curls the ball over the crossbar after showing fine feet inside the Leganes box.
Bustinza does well for Leganes as the centre-back makes it difficult for Benzema to get a clean head on the ball at the far post. As a result, Benzema's effort goes behind for a goal kick.
Leganes are struggling to get the ball at the moment as Real Madrid continue to dominate here.
Little over five minutes of the first period remaining, and Leganes have just had a decent period of possession in the away side's half of the field. That said, it came to an end without any danger to Casilla as Varane stepped across Gabriel to clear. The home side need some inspiration here.
Another corner into the Real Madrid box causes some concern, but the away side do manage to clear their lines on this occasion. The visitors look very nervy from set pieces in this match!
The Leganes supporters behind the goal let out a roar as Rico breaks down the left once again before winning a corner, but the set piece is headed clear by Carvajal. Good pressure from the home side.
HALF-TIME: Leganes 1-2 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Real Madrid leading Leganes 2-1 in the Spanish capital. Leganes took an early lead through Bustinza, but Lucas levelled the scores before Casemiro sent Real Madrid ahead in the 29th minute. Entertaining half of action!
STATISTICS! Real Madrid shaded the first-half possession with 62%, while they had seven attempts - five of which were on target. Leganes, meanwhile, hit the target with each of their two attempts. No yellow cards to report in the first 45 minutes here; to be honest, it has not been that type of game.
BENCH WATCH! Bale, Ceballos, Marcos Llorente and Borja Mayoral are all on the Real Madrid bench tonight, and it would not be a surprise to see three of those feature in the second period. Leganes, meanwhile, have second-half options in the shape of Amrabat, Garcia, Guerrero and Perez.
RESTART! Leganes resume the action here...
... LEGANES SUBS! Mantovani and Perez replace Siovas and Gambau.
I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals in this one, and it has been a bright start to the second period, with Lucas already having a couple of runs at Rico in a wide position.
Quite a scrappy period of the match in the last couple of minutes as the referee is forced to whistle on a number of occasions. Not too much to report in terms of opportunities since the restart here.
BOOKING! Rico (Eibar) is booked for a late challenge on Varane.
Leganes are enjoying a lot of the ball at the moment, but Ramos is struggling to get into the game in a wide position. I suspect that we could see Amrabat at some point in the second period.
Isco delivers a dangerous cross into the home side's box, but Varane is adjudged to have fouled Tito. The Leganes supporters are doing their best to raise their team at the moment here.
Much better from Leganes in the last couple of minutes as they move the ball quicker in the final third. Rico again breaks down the left before delivering, but Varane is on hand to make the clearance.
BOOKING! Ramos (Real Madrid) is booked for pulling El Zhar in a wide area.
That was very harsh on Ramos, who seemed to just edge El Zhar off the ball before the Leganes attacker grabbed the centre-back. Ramos then had something to say to the linesman.
Beauvue has a header blocked behind, and Leganes keep the pressure on from the resulting corner. The home side are certainly forcing the issue, but Navas is not too concerned at the moment.
We are entering the stage of the match where Zidane will be considering changes. Bale is among those on the bench tonight, and it would not be a surprise to see the Welshman in the final 25 minutes or so. The likes of Ceballos, Llorente and Mayoral will also be hoping for some minutes.
SAVE! Super chance for the home side as El Zhar delivers low into Beauvue, but Casilla is on hand to make a brilliant save! Excellent goalkeeping from the away side's stopper!
Still more than enough time for the home side to turn this game around. Real Madrid have not really created a chance of note in the second period, with Leganes doing most of the pressing here.
El Zhar goes down inside the Real Madrid box under pressure from two defenders, but the referee is not interested. The visitors need to start moving the ball down the other end of the field.
Benzema and Asensio combine in the final third, but both players are crowded out at the vital moment as Leganes gain control of the ball once again. Still 2-1 to the visitors with 71 on the clock.
LEGANES SUB! Leganes make their final change as Amrabat replaces Ramos.
Real Madrid are having more of the ball at the moment, and it does appear that Bale will soon enter the field for the away side. Benzema has been poor once again, and he could well be replaced here.
REAL MADRID SUB! Bale replaces Benzema for the away side.
Little over 10 minutes of football remaining, and Real Madrid are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment. Perez has a pop from distance, but his effort was always high of the crossbar.
Real Madrid boss Zidane still has two permitted subs if he wishes, and surely the Frenchman will look to introduce fresh legs in the next few minutes. It has been a poor second period here.
SAVE! Smart save from Cuellar to keep out a strike from Isco.
BOOKING! Cuellar (Leganes) is booked for rolling around following a challenge from Hernandez. The referee has not accepted Cuellar's rolls, and actually shown him a card!
BOOKING! Perez (Leganes) is booked for a foul on Isco.
REAL MADRID SUB! Llorente replaces Isco for the away side.
Perhaps Leganes will have one final chance to grab a point from this match. In truth, not much has happened in the second period. The home side have the ball at the moment, but they are struggling to create space in the final third of the field. Real Madrid are nearing an important win here.
CLOSE! Bale sees a super strike saved just wide of the post!
PENALTY REAL MADRID!
Real Madrid have a penalty as Kovacic is brought to the ground by Tito!
GOAL! Leganes 1-3 Real Madrid (Ramos)
Ramos finds the bottom corner with a fine spot kick!
REAL MADRID SUB! Ceballos replaces Kovacic for the away side.
FULL-TIME: Leganes 1-3 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Real Madrid running out 3-1 winners over Leganes to move into third position in the table ahead of Valencia. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
