Barcelona held firm at the summit of La Liga with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Leganés on Saturday, maintaining their seven-point cushion over second-placed Real Madrid, who still have a game in hand. The win, narrow and far from glamorous, came courtesy of an own goal but proved vital in the race for the Spanish crown.

Playing at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque, the Catalans struggled to break down a disciplined and determined Leganés side, who are fighting for survival at the bottom end of the table. With Barcelona rotating key players ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash, the fluidity of their attack was visibly dulled.

The breakthrough came just after the break in the 48th minute. Raphinha, lively on the right flank, whipped in a low cross aimed at Robert Lewandowski, but Leganés defender Jorge Sáenz, in his attempt to cut it out, inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. It was a cruel moment for the hosts, who had defended resolutely up to that point.

Leganés had their moments to respond. Dani Raba thought he had equalized late in the second half, but his goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR check. Diego García also had a golden opportunity in the closing stages, but he failed to beat Wojciech Szczęsny, who stood tall to keep his clean sheet intact.

Despite a lack of attacking fireworks, Barcelona will be pleased with the result. The match marked their 12th straight unbeaten league outing and extended their overall unbeaten run to 24 matches across all competitions. Manager Hansi Flick will take confidence from the team’s resilience, especially with a 4-0 first-leg advantage over Borussia Dortmund to protect in their Champions League quarter-final second leg next week.

Barcelona now have one eye on continental success, but with the domestic title race still delicately poised, victories like this gritty, narrow, and essential could be what ultimately delivers the La Liga trophy back to Camp Nou.