C.D. Leganés cannot salvage points at the Montilivi (3-0)

C.D. Leganés came away from the Montilivi empty-handed, faltering before Girona F.C. (3-0) in their 19th LaLiga SmartBank game this season. Samu Saiz, thanks to Arnaiz's deflection, and a brace from Stuani paved the way for a home win. Prieto Iglesias and VAR failed to award a clear penalty in Randjelović's favour at the stroke of half time when the score was just 1-0.

Mehdi Nafti's starting team went heavily altered since its Copa del Rey fixture in Jerez, with only Riesgo, Luis Perea and Juan Muñoz being named in both lineups. The match began evenly without clear cut chances for either side to go ahead in the first 15 minutes. Leganés' first dangerous approach came in the 19', with Gaku's ball through to Randjelovic threatening to pierce the defense, until a last ditch interception killed the counter attack.

A first half of deflected goals and unawarded penalties

Half an hour in, Borja Garcés began asking questions of Juan Carlos, who forced the ball for a corner after the effort was levelled with pace from outside the box. However  close Leganés came, it was the locals who went in front only three minutes later, with Samu Saiz's shot ricocheting heavily off Arnaiz to misdirect Riesgo and open the scoring at 1-0. 

Leganés were insistent and produced a goal from none other than Arnaiz in the 40', but the referee went back to rule it offside. Randjelović also suffered by the official's hand, having been brought down by Jairo in the penalty area just as he got his shot off on Juan Carlos. Neither the referee nor VAR were prepared to recognise the legitimate foul on the Serbian and repudiated Pepinero appeals for a spot kick, before tragedy struck again with Stuani grabbing his first of the night just before the whistle blew for half time.

Stuani secures it in the second half

Leganés were chasing down the lead as the second half got underway, with attempts from Perea, Arnaiz and Javi Hernández all fruitless. Naim was the first Blanquiazul substitute after Nafti swapped him in for Randjelović. VAR intervened in the 67' to rule out Baena's goal for the home side as Stuani was detected in an offside position during the build up. 

Juan Muñoz was left frustrated by a travelling shot in the 72' that edged just wide of the local net. Garcés, undeterred, leapt to head a ball arriving from Juan Muñoz on the left in the 74' but was also left disappointed by the goal kick that followed. Stuani had more fortune in the air only minutes later, heading home Girona's third despite the calls for play to be brought back after Luis Perea was fouled. The Pepineros saw out the rest of the match with Doukouré, Diego García, Cissé and Avilés replacing Luis Perea, Juan Muñoz, Arnaiz and Garcés respectively. 

The first defeat in the 'Nafti era' for a Leganés that currently sit with 21 points in the table; their next fixture comes this Sunday at 14:00 (CET) at the Butarque against S.D. Ponferradina.