Real Madrid rounded out their title-winning season with a labouring 2-2 draw with Leganes, inflicting a heartbreaking relegation on their city rivals in the process.
You could deduce from their early performance that Real have spent a good portion of the last week celebrating their 34th title, but it didn’t take them too long to shake off the Sunday evening lurgy and get the after-party started.
Not ten minutes were on the clock when Sergio Ramos continued his astonishing goalscoring campaign, as he rose highest to head in an Isco free-kick for his 11th La Liga strike.
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¡GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL de @SergioRamos!#LeganesRealMadrid | #FIFA20 pic.twitter.com/tId1H0tKiL— Real Madrid C.F. (34?) (@realmadrid) July 19, 2020
Leganes were fighting for their lives, however, and after gathering their composure, they took the game to the champions. Before the break, we were treated to a superb strike from Bryan Gil, low, left-footed, and completely out of Thibaut Courtois’ reach from the tightest of angles.
The hosts needed a win to stand any chance of survival, but there was only so much they could do against Zinedine Zidane’s powerhouse, and were dealt a killer blow shortly after the half-time break. Isco had picked an opportune time to return to his best form, and picked out Marco Asensio, who slotted past Ivan Cuellar to put survival – seemingly – out of Leganes’ reach.
Asensio averages a goal or an assist every 80 minutes in La Liga this season [4 goal contributions in 321 minutes]. pic.twitter.com/E1DfAZKOvL
— Real Madrid Stats (@RMadrid_Stats) July 19, 2020
But then came another twist. After three substitutions took Real out of their rhythm, with Zidane looking to get half an hour of football out of fringe players Brahim Diaz and Luka Jovic, Roger Assalé found an equalising goal from close range. Jonathan Silva’s cross earned him his second assist of the night – he hadn’t registered any this term in the 37 games prior.
The drama wasn’t quite done there; Unai Bustinza and Javier Aviles both spurned chances to claim a historic win for the home side, before Real got the benefit of a VAR call after Jovic had appeared to handle the ball in the area. Madrid loanee Oscar skied a great late opportunity, but the ball stayed out of the net.
Real finish the season on 87 points, and Leganes drop into La Liga 2.
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