Nacional vs Leganes

Leganes made a wholesale 10-man substitution at half-time, with only Roberto López remaining on the pitch until the 83rd minute. The disruption — standard for pre-season — made it difficult for either side to build rhythm. Leganes effectively fielded an entirely different XI in the second half, which contributed to the game's stop-start nature and the eventual 0-0 outcome.

• Markus Jensen (Nacional) — the Danish winger was Nacional's most lively attacking outlet, causing problems down the flank in the first half.
• Chucho Ramírez (Nacional) — the forward held the ball up effectively and forced Leganes' defence to stay alert throughout his time on the pitch.
• Ignasi Miquel (Leganes) — the experienced centre-back marshalled the backline for the first 45 minutes before being substituted at half-time as part of Leganes' planned rotation.
• Raúl Fernández (Leganes) — the veteran goalkeeper was assured in the first half before being replaced by Juan Soriano at the interval.

Player of the match: Markus Jensen (Nacional)

A 0-0 draw in a pre-season friendly tells you more about the stage of preparation than the quality of the contest. Both teams prioritised minutes and rotation over result. Leganes made 10 half-time substitutions — a clear signal that fitness-building, not winning, was the objective. Nacional used six substitutes across the game, with Gião giving game time to his entire travelling squad.

The pre-match data from Sports Mole gave the 0-0 draw a 7.46% probability — the third most likely single scoreline behind 1-1 (11.65%) and 2-1 to Nacional (8.88%). The goalless outcome, while rare in probabilistic terms, was a fair reflection of a contest where neither side sustained enough pressure to force a breakthrough.

Nacional's third consecutive pre-season draw means Gião's side remain undefeated in their summer preparations but have work to do in the final third before the competitive season begins. The Madeira club will close their training camp in Lousada with a final friendly against Estrela da Amadora on Thursday 23 July at Estádio da Malveira (17:30), before returning to Madeira to finalise preparations for the 2026-27 Liga Portugal season.

Leganes, under their own pre-season programme, continue their build-up to the Spanish Segunda División campaign. The Pepineros have also drawn 0-0 with Albacete in their previous friendly, suggesting defensive solidity is a positive early-season takeaway for both sides.

A textbook pre-season friendly: 0-0, heavy rotation, and both managers ticking fitness boxes. Nacional's search for a first pre-season win goes on, but Gião will be satisfied with defensive solidity after three games without defeat. Leganes' 10 half-time changes made any meaningful tactical assessment difficult, but the clean sheet on the road is a minor positive ahead of their season opener.