Loss at Zorrilla (4-3)

C.D. Leganés was unable to earn any points on its visit to the José Zorrilla Stadium (4-3). Álex Millán and Morata (2) scored for the Pepineros, but Miguel Rubio (2), Arnu, and Abed did the same for Real Valladolid.

Luis Carrión made just one change to the Leganés starting lineup from the previous matchday against Mallorca, with Kechta starting in place of Soko, who began the game on the bench.

The match began with a great chance for Leganés in the 2nd minute, as Sancris made a run down the left flank that the No. 22 finished with a right-footed shot across the goal that grazed the post. However, in the 5th minute, Valladolid took the lead after a corner kick that Miguel Rubio headed home to make it 1-0.

The Pepineros tried to respond, with a good chance for Kechta in the 13th minute that was ruled offside. The French-Moroccan tried again in the 14th minute with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box that grazed the crossbar. Sancris and Millán also tested Aceves as Leganés sought the equalizer through combination play.

Millán equalized Miguel Rubio’s opening goal, but Valladolid went into halftime leading 3-1.

In the 20th minute, the Pepineros’ pressure paid off. After a long attacking sequence, the Valladolid defense cleared a shot by Dani Rodríguez off the line, and on the rebound, Álex Millán calmly beat Aceves to make it 1-1 with his second goal of the season—his second in a row after the one against Mallorca. However, in the 25th minute, following another corner kick for Valladolid, Miguel Rubio once again scored to make it 2-1 on a play contested by the Pepinero defense.

Sancris nearly tied the game again on a direct free kick in the 27th minute, but the home team’s efficiency struck again in the 29th minute when Arnu made it 3-1 in favor of the home side. The teams went into halftime with that score.

Morata’s Brace in a Second Half Where Lega Fought Until the End

Luis Carrión made his first substitution after halftime, bringing Soko into the game to replace Dani Rodríguez in search of more speed on offense. In the 53rd minute, Abed scored Valladolid’s fourth goal, just before Zico and Morata replaced Diawara and Álex Millán. Morata himself narrowed the gap in the 68th minute by collecting an inside pass from Sancris and beating Aceves with his left foot, scoring his first goal in a Leganés jersey.

In the 74th minute, Unax came on for Gharbi in Carrión’s fourth substitution. And in the 83rd minute, Naim replaced Rubén Peña in the Blue-and-Whites’ final substitution. Morata tried his luck on a direct free kick, which Aceves parried, and Montero was close to capitalizing on the rebound. Morata himself, in stoppage time, scored his second goal of the afternoon to make it 4-3. Leganés fought until the very last second, but ultimately lost the match and returned home empty-handed.

The “Pepineros” remain on twelve points in the standings, and their next match will be on Saturday (6:30 p.m.) against Albacete Balompié.