Leganés and Deportivo Alavés fought fiercely on Saturday at Estadio Municipal Butarque, culminating in a thrilling 3-3 draw packed with drama and several key refereeing decisions.
The match began with significant emotional weight, as the players of Leganés entered the pitch donning shirts to support their teammate Barisic, who suffered a serious injury. This display of solidarity created an electric atmosphere among the fans, uniting them behind their team.
The tension was palpable from the first whistle, with the referee, Pablo González Fuertes, facing several pivotal moments throughout the match. The first major decision came as early as the sixth minute when VAR was called upon to review a challenge between Leganés defender Matija Nastasic and Alavés’s Moussa Diarra. The review concluded with González awarding Leganés a penalty. Dani Raba stepped up to the spot and converted the kick, sending the ball powerfully to the left side of the net, beyond the reach of Alavés goalkeeper Antonio Sivera, putting Leganés up 1-0.
Yet, the joy for Leganés was short-lived. After leading for only 20 minutes, Alavés equalized. Kike García finished clinically with his left foot, benefiting from Carles Aleñá's assist, and suddenly, the match was level at 1-1.
Leganés responded with another penalty just before halftime. Following another VAR consultation, González awarded Leganés their second penalty after Sivera clashed with Diego García. Again, Raba stood firm and scored, giving Leganés the lead back at 2-1. The first half, fueling the intensity of the game, ended with the home side leading.
Determined to turn the tide after the break, Alavés came out strong. Just minutes after the second half kicked off, they were awarded their own penalty after Cissé's handball was spotted during play. Jordán took the responsibility and fired confidently past Dmitrovic, leveling the score at 2-2.
Building on their momentum, Alavés struck again. Jordán scored his second goal of the match from outside the box after receiving the ball from a set-piece, sending it curling beautifully past the bewildered Leganés keeper, putting Alavés ahead 2-3 and raising hopes of victory.
But the Leganés players were not yet ready to concede defeat. They kept their composure and continued pressing for another goal, creating opportunities and sustaining pressure against Alavés’s defense. Their persistence paid off when Munir El Haddadi, with just two minutes remaining on the clock, rose spectacularly to connect with Rosier's cross and head the ball home, equalizing at 3-3.
The crowd erupted as this scored symbolized more than just another goal; it represented their team’s refusal to back down. The game, now thrillingly even, saw yet another dramatic moment as Munir received a red card for two yellow infractions just moments after equalizing, leaving Leganés with only ten men for the final minutes.
The dying moments of the match were frenetic, with Alavés attempting to seize the advantage one last time. A near miss from Mouriño came dangerously close to sealing their victory, but the final whistle blew, ending the match with both teams sharing the spoils.
This high-energy encounter underlined the stakes of the league, as both teams vie for points to steer clear of relegation. Currently, Leganés remains positioned fifteenth with 24 points collected over the season, whereas Alavés sits at eighteenth place, earning themselves 22 points.
Fans are now eagerly awaiting the next round of fixtures, with Leganés traveling to face Real Sociedad next Sunday. The complexity of emotions experienced during this match made the draw feel like both triumph and missed opportunity for each side.