Real Madrid ease strain on Zidane with late winner at Leganes

Marco Asensio scored a late winner to ease the strain on under fire Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, giving his side a laboured 1-0 win over Leganes in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter final.

Zidane's European champions have fallen a remarkable 19 points behind runaway leaders Barcelona in La Liga and are currently fourth in the standings, trailing second-placed Atletico Madrid by 10 points and third-placed Valencia by eight.

The Copa del Rey, however, is still very much an achievable target for Real, but nothing in this performance suggested they can challenge Barca, or anyone else, for the trophy. Over the balance of play, Leganes might have been the better team, with Real Madrid lethargic and seemingly uninterested throughout.

But Asensio scored late on, firing home a volleyed finish at the near post, to give his side a 1-0 win ahead of next week’s second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. This isn’t a result that will silence Zidane’s critics much.

In the end, Real Madrid wound up with the victory. Asensio’s late goal helped erase a number of headlines which would have heaped even more pressure on the under fire Zidane. However, the Frenchman still won’t be pleased with the manner of his side’s performance. There was no fluidity to their attacking play, struggling to break down a lesser opponent. This will concern him.

The Leganes backline did an excellent job for 89 minutes before an exceptional piece of skill from Asensio unpicked them. But their best player on the night wasn’t even a defender, it was Ruben Perez. Positioned just in front of the back four, he provided a layer of protection, making it exceedingly difficult for Real Madrid to break down the hosts. Perez was the standout for Leganes.

Leganes - Champagne 6, Tito 6, Bustinza 7, Siovas 7, Rico 5, Perez 7, Gumbau 5, El Zhar 7, Eraso 6, Naranjo 5, Beauvue 5. Subs - Amrabat 6, Omar 5, Brasanac 4.

Real Madrid - Casilla 6, Carvajal 5, Vallejo 4, Varane 5, Theo 5, Kovacic 5, Llorente 5, Ceballos 6, Vazquez 6, Mayoral 5, Asensio 7. Subs - Nacho 5, Isco 5, Modric 6.

14’ ANOTHER INJURY? This is another concerning development for the away side. Vallejo has hit the turf and is holding the back of his leg, his thigh. Might he have to come off here? Yes, he will.

34’ WHAT A CHANCE! Real Madrid should have taken the lead. Kovacic wins the ball right on the edge of the box, dispossessing Perez. But one-on-one with the keeper, he shoots wide of the near post.

65’ OFF THE CROSSBAR! Leganes come within inches of taking the lead! It all came from a freekick whipped into the area and Llorente very nearly flicked a header into his own net.

73’ CHANCE FOR AMRABAT! Within seconds of coming on, Amrabat is causing problems for Real Madrid. He takes aim on the half volley from a tight angle, but Casilla makes the stop at his near post.

89’ GOAL! Leganes 0-1 Real Madrid: Real Madrid have scored the winner right at the death! What a finish it was! Asensio met a Theo cross from the left side on the first time volley and fired a shot into the back of the net at the near post.

Real Madrid didn’t concede a single foul in the first half, the first time they have done that since April 2014.

Marco Asensio broke his longest scoring drought for Real Madrid since his debut (10 games without a goal).