FC Barcelona players Lionel Messi (L) and Neymar. (Photo : Getty Images)
Newly-promoted squad CD Leganes (1-1-1, 4 points) is scheduled to face back-to-back champions FC Barcelona (2-1-0, 6 points) in a 2016-2017 La Liga season match at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Saturday, Sep. 17.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 7:00 a.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Leganes started the season strongly with a 1-0 road win over Celta Vigo during the season's opening week.
However, the team faltered in their last two games with a goalless draw against Atletico Madrid in week 2 and a 1-2 loss to Sporting Gijon last Sunday at the Estadio El Molinón for their second consecutive winless performance, as per ESPN.
Sporting midfielder Nacho Cases opened the scoring at the 17th minute of the match with a right-footed shot from the center box before forward Duje Cop doubled the lead with a penalty kick at the 43rd.
Head coach Asier Garitano's squad managed to cut the lead in half at the 58th minute via a Diego Rico left-footer, but it was the closest Los Pepineros could come as they succumbed to their first loss in the Spanish top flight.
Leganes is currently at the 11th spot of the league table after three weeks of competitions.
Meanwhile, Barcelona succumbed to the first surprise of the season, losing to another newly-promoted side Deportivo Alaves, 1-2, at the Camp Nou last Saturday, Goal reported.
Brazil international Neymar is back for Barça, but head coach Luis Enrique chose to start him, Arda Turan, and new signing Paco Alcacer as his front three while Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez were fielded in as substitutes after the hour mark of the match.
Alaves drew first blood in the match as Brazilian forward Deyverson broke the deadlock at the 39th minute with a typical striker's run that was not stopped by Barcelona keeper Jasper Cillessen.
The Catalan giants managed to equalize one minute into the restart, though, with an awkward header from French defender Jeremy Mathieu.
But the visitors had the last laugh in the match as midfielder Ibai Gomez dribbled past Javier Mascherano and scored Alaves' second goal of the game at the 64th to snag the three points and stunning win.
Enrique and his crew are expected to redeem themselves in this match against Leganes after a wake-up call in their previous game.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 3-0 bounce back rout for Barcelona.
Leganes starting lineup (5-3-2 formation): Simon; Diaz, Mantovani, Insua, Rico, Marin; Lopez, Martin, Timor; Guerrero, Gabriel
Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, D. Suárez; Messi, L. Suárez, Neymar
