Leganés offer far more than Álvaro Morata as leaders Castellón visit Butarque | OneFootball

Leganés have rebuilt smartly beyond Álvaro Morata and, seen a rung below the relegated sides by some, now host leaders Castellón on Monday.

El Periódico Mediterráneo notes that Euro 2024 champion Morata, formerly of Real Madrid, Atlético, Chelsea, Milan and Juventus, is on loan from Como. He has rotated starts and bench and is yet to score, though he remains a threat.

Rubén Albés arrived in summer. They have lost only once, 2-0 at Tenerife, with home wins over Eldense, 1-0, and Granada, 3-2, plus 1-0 at Oviedo and draws at Girona, 1-1, and Las Palmas, 0-0. Level with the play-off places and five points off Castellón, after a bumpy return last season, promotion is again the aim.

Pablo Hernández's side resumed work at La Coma ahead of Butarque on Monday at 20.30. They will be without Colombia midfielder Maty Orozco, Portugal wing-back Rodrigo Rego and Kosovo goalkeeper Amir Saipi due to international duty.

Those three will also miss the following round at SkyFi Castalia against Ceuta, while Italy defender Fabrizio Brignani remains a long-term absentee.

On Monday Albés cannot call on Tunisian forward Ismael Gharbi, one of the season's early standouts, as he is on international duty. He is their only World Cup player called up this window, while goalkeeper Luca Zidane, an Algeria World Cup starter last time, is available.

Zidane is among a wave of summer signings, alongside Atienza, Unax del Cura, Montero and Patrick Soko.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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