Leganés earns a creditable draw in Gijón (1-1)

C.D. Leganés achieved a very creditable draw at El Molinón - Enrique Castro, "Quini" against Real Sporting (1-1), in a match corresponding to the twentieth round of LALIGA HYPERMOTION. Sergio González gave the Pepineros the lead, while Otero, from the penalty spot, equalized for the Asturians.

Borja Jiménez introduced two changes, conditioned by the four injuries that forced him to modify the call-up list and the starting eleven, especially in the attacking zone. At El Molinón, Seydouba Cissé and Óscar Ureña came into the lineup in place of Jorge Miramón and Dani Raba, who were out last matchday, as well as Miguel de la Fuente, and the absence of Darío Poveda.

Sergio González, from a corner kick, gave Leganés the lead before the break.

From the start, Cissé was deployed on the right flank, Ureña on the left, while Portillo started a few meters ahead of Neyou and Undabarrena to link up with Diego García as the most advanced player. In 13' came the first attempt by the pepineros, after a corner kick forced by Diego García and Cissé that Jorge Sáenz ended up finishing off with a bicycle kick, but his shot went narrowly wide. Later, it was Diego García and Neyou, from outside the area, who tried their shots without too much danger for the local goal.

Sporting tried to score through Hassan on the right flank, although Leganés defended with order in the first half hour of the match. In 36', the pepineros took the lead on the scoreboard: corner kicked by Undabarrena to the far post, Diego García fought for the ball and Sergio González headed to the back of the net to score his third goal of the season to the delight of the three hundred Blue and Whites' fans who had travelled to Asturias. The half-time whistle was blown.

Otero, on penalty, equalized for Sporting after the restart.

The second half started without changes in the Lega, with a huge intervention by Diego Conde in minute 48 to Otero's header that prevented the equalizer. But in minute 50, González Esteban pointed out a penalty by Sergio González for a fall by Gaspar, which Otero converted to make it 1-1. On the hour mark, Borja Jiménez made his first change, bringing on Naim in place of Ureña. Shortly after, a dangerous approach from a corner kick that neither Cissé nor Undabarrena managed to finish.

In minute 70, the second substitution of the Pepeños, Chicco came on in place of Portillo in midfield. Sporting pressed in search of a comeback, with a chance for Fran Villalba in minute 75 that went narrowly wide. Nyom had a chance in 79' after a good combination with Naim, but his shot went over. Then, Arambarri replaced Diego García in the last substitution of the Madrid players, leaving Naim as the most advanced player.

Lega will finish the 2023 and a magnificent first round in the direct promotion places.

Lega defended well against the attacks from Gijón, defending with order in the area and covering gaps, looking for their option on the counter with spaces. In the seven minutes of added time, there were no notable chances, and so the match came to an end, with a very deserved point for the pepineros, which allows them to continue one more day at the top of the standings and move up to 38 in the table.

The Blue and Whites will close 2023 and a magnificent first round, which will end in direct promotion places, whatever happens next matchday, receiving C.D. Tenerife on Wednesday (21:30) at Butarque.