Real Madrid vs Leganes - Match Preview, Predictions, Venue & Where to Watch Details | LaLiga 2018/19

After the initial murmurs of indecisiveness and instability, Real Madrid have shown on the pitch that all those rumors about squad unrest are seemingly false. Ahead of week three of LaLiga 2018-19, Madrid are top of the league, albeit on goal difference, ahead of their arch-rivals Barcelona.

While these are still early days, Real already seem, to be moving on from the Ronaldo departure. But that is how football and life are, for time and tide wait for none. Madrid may not have replaced Ronaldo with a star signing like the earlier days, however, that doesn’t mean they have stalled in the transfer market.

Instead, Madrid has activated a buy-back option to bring the 25-year-old forward, Mariano Diaz back to the Bernabeu and coach Julen Lopetegui has hailed his arrival. They have been quick to hand him the number seven shirt, and one hopes that the number on the shirt doesn’t bog down the forward.

Leganes, on the other hand, are one of the seven teams who have picked up a solitary point from their opening two fixtures. Under Pellegrino, Leganes are adapting to a new style of play and having suffered the initial shock of being a goal down against Real Sociedad, the team did well to come back into the game last weekend to gain a point.

Real Madrid - Leganes

Date: 2nd September

Kickoff: 22:15 (local time), 12:15 AM (IST)

Live Stream: Live on LaLiga's Facebook page (Indian sub-continent only) - https://www.facebook.com/LaLiga/

Venue: Santiago Bernabeu

Kroos will be central to Madrid's performance

Real Madrid - Leganes: Team News

Real Madrid: One of the eye-catching moments in their game against Girona last weekend, was the manner in which Gareth Bale motored past the Girona defence before curling his shot to score Madrid’s third goal. And the Welshman again took advantage of his searing pace to set up the fourth and final goal of the game for fellow forward and team-mate, Karim Benzema.

No major changes are expected in the line-up of Madrid, with the same team expected to start as last weekend. The only change that might happen may be with respect to the central defence pairing. With Sergio Ramos expected to start, it will be interesting who will start alongside him between Nacho and Raphael Varane.

Pellegrino has replaced Garitano at the Leganes helm this summer

Leganes: Having conceded two goals early into the game, Leganes did well to grab a point from their last fixture against Real Sociedad. Pellegrino, who was appointed over the summer, has experienced LaLiga before and will look to rebuild his managerial record after a torrid time with Southampton. Leganes who has spent their major part of their existence in the lower leagues has improved season by season ever since they made it to the La Liga.

Known as the Los Pepineros, this will be their third consecutive season in the top tier of Spanish club football, and will hope to consolidate. Despite possessing one of the smallest budgets, Leganes have done well to cement their status in the league and with Pellegrino at the helm; they will hope to write a new chapter of their club’s history.

Real Madrid - Leganes: Probable Line-ups

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Navas (GK), Marcelo, Ramos, Varane/Nacho, Carvajal, Casmeiro, Kroos, Isco, Bale, Asensio, Benzema

Leganes (4-4-1-1): Cuellar (GK), Juanfran, Siovas, Munoz, Silva, El Zahr, Perez, Gumbau, Ojeda, Eraso, Carillo.

Real Madrid - Leganes: Form Guide

Last five matches in all competitions:

Real Madrid: W-W-L-W-W

Leganes: D-L-W-L-L

Real Madrid - Leganes: Key Players

Real Madrid: Gareth Bale should be the one to watch out for. The Welshman dazzled last weekend and was back to his usual self, terrorising defenders and running at them for fun. The manner in which he accelerated past the Girona defence was at times effortless on his part. That said, Karim Benzema also did his bit by scoring a brace and will also be one to look out for.

Despite the criticism, the Frenchman continues to score and create goals and his contribution to this Madrid team is recognized more by his team-mates than the fans at times. The Frenchman will see this game as an opportunity to enhance his scoring record.

Leganes: Nabil El Zahr, the former Liverpool winger has been in tremendous form in their opening fixtures. The Moroccan scored a brace last week helping his side to a point after curling in a right footed shot from the centre of the box. That aside, their forward Guido Carillo is also someone to watch out for having been at the centre of all the action last weekend.

Bale's searing pace will be to watch out for

Real Madrid v Leganes: Predictions

Football may be an unpredictable game, but unfortunately, in games like these, it is the heavyweights that start as favourites. Real Madrid are expected to roll-over their opponents and if Madrid do play to the potential they displayed last week, then the score-line may just become a tennis score.

Predicted Score: 5-1