Compete

When Leganes had been promoted to La Liga on the finish of final season, there was little to recommend they might have the flexibility to compete within the high flight.

Typically discovered with out a pure goalscorer throughout their title-winning marketing campaign in Segunda, and harvesting a squad with little or no La Liga expertise between them. Nonetheless, in Borja Jimenez, who, like nearly all of his squad – hadn’t managed a high flight fixture previous to this season – they’ve a supervisor who can guarantee his crew carry out at a stage that’s greater than the sum of their components. 

At present locked in a relegation battle, , Los Pepineros are giving their all in an try to ensure a second successive La Liga marketing campaign since 2020.

So, how precisely are they doing it? 

Jimenez tends to set his facet arrange someplace between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-4-3, and the frequency of transition between these two techniques usually depends on sport state and the opposition they’re up towards. This flexibility leans on the tactical acumen of their 40-year-old supervisor.

Towards Atletico Madrid, the place they accomplished an enormous scalp by ending Diego Simeone’s 15-game profitable run with a 1-0 win at Butarque, Leganes switched very fluidly between the 2 techniques. On this one, Jimenez used Peruvian Renato Tapia as a automobile to change from one to the opposite. 

When Leganes had the ball on this sport, Tapia grew to become free to maneuver right into a midfield place and slot right into a single pivot position as an alternative. This grew to become an actual dilemma for Atleti’s urgent front-line, who as an alternative of seeking to shut off three centre-back choices, needed to give attention to shielding a go behind them into Tapia.

The Peruvian was additionally the participant chosen to drop again right into a 5 throughout defensive situations, which had been much more frequent as Los Pepineros appeared to carry on to their slim benefit within the sport.

It was straightforward to see why Jimenez went for this, as Atleti appeared to make use of fast mixtures within the channels to create extensive overloads, which means a wider back-line would assist Leganes fight that exact menace.

Nonetheless, when Tapia drops right into a 5, sometimes too early, it could possibly result in extra area between the traces for the opposition to take advantage of – with out the Peruvian they will seem outnumbered in these areas.

Jimenez has arguably had higher success when utilizing the 3-4-3 as an in-possession blueprint, as with little pure creativity inside their ranks, Leganes should use a extra systematic method to fabricate scoring alternatives. The usage of flying wing-backs is comparable with , who Leganes went toe-to-toe with by matching their extensive system final weekend.

Los Pepineros wing-back Valentin Rosier has posted among the higher numbers within the division when it comes to his attacking output. In fact on this Leganes crew, the Frenchman is a reasonably lively defender, but additionally ranks inside the high 4% of full-backs for shot-creating actions by profitable take-ons. 

Towards Vigo, Rosier and maverick winger Juan Cruz gave Los Celestes pairing Oscar Mingueza and Marcos Alonso a torrid time on the Leganes proper.

It’s a easy idea, however Cruz dropping infield to draw a Vigo defender allowed Rosier to fly across the exterior and create a crossing alternative. The Spaniard’s menace alone is sufficient to hassle most defences, however put the highly effective runs of Leganes’ wing-back into the equation and it turns into an excessive amount of for anybody.

Towards Getafe, in a sport of little or no high quality, that very same mixture devastated their Madrid rivals within the ultimate seconds of the sport. As Los Pepineros so usually do, they pounced on a transition created by Cruz’s good flip in midfield. 

Rosier’s unimaginable physicality meant he flew across the exterior of Getafe’s back-line, free to cross, leaving Diego Garcia to creator an excellent overhead kick previous the despairing David Soria to offer a dramatic ending to the South Madrid derby. Considered one of many examples this season of Leganes’ wing-backs being the most important attacking menace of their facet.

The Frenchman isn’t the one distinctive profile that Jimenez seems to profit from on this Leganes facet although, as midfield pairing of Seydouba Cisse and Yvan Neyou Noupa each provide particular capabilities inside Jimenez’s system.

Cisse’s capability to maintain the ball nicely gives a breadth of choices for Leganes once they construct from the again, significantly parting from that common again three. Jimenez’s defenders usually break up into wider positions to make it harder for the opposition to press them straight, but additionally block the midfield choices coming from behind.

One of many Guinean’s most typical strikes is to attend for the centre-backs to unfold into a complicated place, while attracting the opposition’s press, and utilizing his distinctive again to aim play, and zipping the ball out extensive. This not solely beats the press, however invitations his teammates to rove ahead from that centre-back place, leaving what would often be a three-versus-two state of affairs within the extensive areas.

Cisse ranks inside the high 10% of La Liga midfielders for profitable take-ons, and doesn’t draw back from his defensive duties both, flying throughout the bottom rapidly sufficient to take a seat inside the high 10% for ball recoveries too.

As for Neyou, he’s usually the out-of-possession set off for Leganes, and the sealing possibility for his or her urgent. In what’s often a stodgy mid-block, the Cameroonian does his greatest to defend the again line from any direct passes into that zone.

Within the ultimate third, Neyou covers appreciable floor to press opposition midfield choices again in the direction of their aim. Leganes often slender off when making an attempt to pin the opposite crew, which implies Neyou can be part of the entrance two as a part of a 2-1 urgent line. 

For his half, the 28-year-old ranks inside the high 20% of midfielders within the division for tackles gained, dribblers tacked and aerials gained. He’s the proper praise to Cisse’s dexterous ball-playing capability.

Though their , Jimenez has performed to the strengths of his crew as greatest as he can, and has undoubtedly proved his price on the high stage. Solely Espanyol and Sevilla have decrease wage limits than Leganes, and each are spending nicely in extra of their allowance – an indication of simply how steep their uphill process is. By means of an intensive and organised method, Leganes can nonetheless dream of consecutive seasons of La Liga soccer at Butarque although.