Segunda Division continues on Monday night as Leganes welcome Deportivo La Coruna to the Estadio Municipal de Butarque. The clash is part of the third round of fixtures, and it is an intriguing meeting between two clubs aiming to establish themselves in the upper half of the table.
Leganes enter the game still searching for a first win. Their opening two matches have both finished level, a 1-1 draw at Huesca and the same scoreline at home against Cadiz. They sit in mid-table with two points from a possible six and have yet to record a clean sheet. Their xPTS total of three suggests results have not been far from performances, but with only two goals scored, more attacking edge will be needed.
Deportivo are looking to settle quickly into this season after a 15th place finish last term and have made a brighter start. A 3-1 home victory over Granada was followed by a goalless draw away at Burgos. That leaves them with four points and a place inside the early top ten. Underlying data supports their position: their xPTS tally also sits at four, with 3.0 xG created and just 1.0 xGA. That defensive figure is among the strongest in the division so far.
Both clubs have seen change in the summer. Leganes have lost a couple of senior figures from last season’s squad, replacing them with younger options as they attempt to refresh the side. Deportivo, meanwhile, have recruited steadily, blending experience with a few smart loanees from LaLiga clubs. Monday’s meeting offers a good early measure of how each project is shaping up.
How the bookies view it: Hosts favourites in low scoring game
Leganes are priced at 5/4 (44.4% implied probability) to win at Butarque, while Deportivo are 27/10 (27.0%) outsiders and the draw is available at 11/5 (31.3%). The goals market shows over 2.5 at 13/10 (43.5%) and under 2.5 odds-on at around 8/13 (62.1%), reflecting the expectation of a tight contest. Both Teams to Score is almost evenly split, with Yes at 26/25 (49.0%) and No at 17/20 (54.1%).
Head to Head: Leganes hold a slight advantage
Leganes and Deportivo La Coruna have met four times in La Liga between 2016 and 2018, with Leganes holding the edge thanks to two wins, one draw and one defeat. The most notable result was a 4-0 victory for Leganes in February 2017, while Deportivo’s only success came later that year with a 1-0 home win. The other two meetings finished 2-1 to Leganes in September 2016 and 0-0 in April 2018. Across those games Leganes scored six goals to Deportivo’s two, and three of the four encounters finished under 2.5 goals, underlining a generally tight head-to-head record.
Players to watch: Duk to continue his shooting spree
Duk, whose full name is Luis Lopes, looks a strong candidate in the shots market this week, with 2+ attempts at goal well within reach. The Portuguese forward has started both of Leganes’ opening league fixtures, once on the right and once on the left, and still delivered two shots in each match. That consistency, regardless of position, underlines his ability to find opportunities. Across those games he has taken four shots in 136 minutes, which works out at 2.65 per 90, a healthy rate for a wide forward in Segunda Division . He also showed accuracy in the opener at Huesca, with both efforts testing the goalkeeper, while in the draw with Cadiz he added an assist. Lopes is still looking for his first goal since joining from Aberdeen last year, but his steady output suggests it is only a matter of time. Backing him for 2+ shots appeals.
Predicted line-ups
Leganes (4-4-2): Soriano, Marvel, Saenz, Aguilar, Pena, Cisse, Diawara, Diego, Naim, Miguel, Duk
Deportivo La Coruna (5-3-2): Parreno, Loureiro, Comas, Barcia, Luismi, Escudero, Gragera, Villares, Yeremay, Eddahchouri, Soriano
Anything else catch the eye?
Both teams finding the net looks a smart angle for Monday’s meeting. Leganes have created plenty of danger in the opening fortnight, ranking sixth in the league for big chances with six already, yet they have only managed two goals. That conversion rate points to more scoring to come if they continue generating clear opportunities.
Deportivo’s attack has been reliable too. They have registered 25 shots across two matches, averaging 12.5 per game, and nine of those have been on target. That works out at 4.5 shots on target per ninety, which puts them in the upper third of the league. With three goals scored from those efforts, they have shown a clinical edge when chances arrive.
Defensively, neither side looks watertight. Leganes have faced 24 shots in two games, conceding six on target, which is three per match. They have been breached in both outings, and opponents are hitting the target against them at a 25% rate. Deportivo, while praised for organisation, have still allowed opponents 12.5 attempts per ninety. Even if only 12% of those have been on target, the volume suggests that eventually more efforts will test their goalkeeper.
Another supporting factor is discipline and game state. Leganes have not failed to score in either fixture and seem committed to pushing forward regardless of conceding. Deportivo’s clean sheet at Burgos was the exception rather than the rule, with their opening win against Granada showing a willingness to trade blows.
With Leganes’ ability to carve clear opportunities and Deportivo’s steady shot production, both defences are likely to be tested. The numbers point towards a contest where each side gets on the scoresheet, making both teams to score an appealing selection.
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