Leganes‘ battle to escape the bottom three in La Liga will continue on Sunday night, when they make the trip to a Las Palmas outfit that have already had their relegation from Spain’s top flight confirmed.
The away team are 18th in the La Liga table, four points behind 17th-placed Alaves, while Las Palmas are 19th, with their relegation being confirmed following their 1-0 loss to Sevilla on Tuesday night.
Match preview
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Las Palmas have had a tough campaign, only picking up 32 points from their 36 league matches this season, which has left them in 19th spot in the table, six points behind 17th-placed Alaves, who have a superior head-to-head record.
As a result, Pio Pio will play in the Segunda Division next season, but they will be bidding to end their season on a positive note, especially as four straight losses have occurred to Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla.
Las Palmas have goals in their team, with Sandro Ramirez and Fabio Silva netting 19 times between them in Spain’s top flight this season, but they have struggled defensively, conceding 58 times in their 36 matches.
If head coach Diego Martinez can keep the bulk of this squad together, then they will be favourites to secure an immediate return to the top flight next season, but defensive changes are needed.
Las Palmas have lost three of their last four La Liga matches against Leganes, including a 2-1 reverse earlier this season.
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Leganes can still survive in the final stages of the season, but it will take a huge effort for them to escape the bottom three.
Indeed, a record of seven wins, 13 draws and 16 defeats from 36 matches has seen them collect 34 points to sit in 18th spot in the table, four points behind 17th-placed Alaves with two games left.
Leganes need to beat Las Palmas to stand any chance of remaining in the division, but they will enter this match off the back of a disappointing result, suffering a 3-0 defeat to Villarreal on May 14.
Borja Jimenez‘s side have only been victorious in one of their last 10 league fixtures, and the reigning Segunda Division champions are facing dropping back into the second tier for the 2025-26 campaign.
El Lega have struggled on their travels during the 2024-25 campaign, only picking up 12 points from their 18 matches, recording just one win in the process, but Las Palmas have collected only 17 points from their 18 games in front of their own supporters.
Team News
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Las Palmas will be without the services of Mika Marmol through suspension, while Kirian Rodriguez will sit out the final two matches of the campaign, as he continues to recover from cancer.
Fabio Silva should be fit to return to the squad after a recent issue, but he may start on the bench, while head coach Martinez will make changes to the side that started the loss to Sevilla.
Dario Essugo and Marc Cardona could both be introduced into the XI, while there is also likely to be a spot at the back for Marvin Park, with Viti Rozada potentially dropping out of the side.
As for Leganes, Enric Franquesa remains on the sidelines with a long-term knee injury, but the visitors are otherwise in strong shape.
Head coach Jimenez is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack following the heavy defeat to Villarreal last time out, with a 3-4-3 formation set to include Dani Raba and Diego Garcia in the final third of the field.
Darko Brasanac and Miguel de la Fuente are both options for change, but it is likely that the pair will continue on the bench.
Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Horkas; Park, Suarez, McKenna, Herzog; Sandro, Essugo, Campana, Moleiro; McBurnie, M Cardona
Leganes possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Rosier, Saenz, Hernandez; Alti, Tapia, Neyou, Diomande; Raba, D Garcia, Cisse
We say: Las Palmas 1-1 Leganes
Leganes have only managed one away victory in La Liga this season, which incredibly came against the champions Barcelona back in December. It is difficult to back Leganes with any real confidence here, and we are predicting a draw, which would all but relegate Jimenez’s side this weekend.
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