Leganes won their relegation six-pointer against Granada as Fran Escriba toppled Quique Sanchez Flores in Saturday’s La Liga Week 26 action.
Leganes 1-0 Granada
Leganes moved five points clear of the relegation zone in La Liga thanks to a 1-0 victory over Granada on Saturday.
Gabriel appeared to be clipped in the box but wasn’t awarded a penalty, although his subsequent header was almost turned in by captain Martin Mantovani, who should’ve done better from a couple of yards out.
Nonetheless, Granada loanee Darwin Machis finished off a counterattack via a square ball from the right to become Leganes’ hero and the villain for his parent club.
It could’ve got even better for the Madrid minnows, had an unmarked Diego Rico netted a right-wing cross from point-blank range, but Guillermo Ochoa stood his ground.
The win was Lega’s second in a row, while the Andalusians fall four points adrift.
Villarreal 2-0 Espanyol
Villarreal consolidated sixth place with a 2-0 win against Espanyol on Saturday as Fran Escriba got one over former mentor Quique Sanchez Flores.
Cedric Bakambu [pictured, centre] was sent through on goal but could only flick a finish at Diego Lopez, before his backheel in the Espanyol penalty area found Roberto Soriano, who could only shoot straight at the goalkeeper.
The Yellow Submarine were almost made to rue their wastefulness when Jose Manuel Jurado failed to beat Andres Fernandez from a couple of yards out, but Soriano swiftly kneed home a clipped cross.
Bakambu then finished off a rebound that went in off Lopez to make sure of the points.