Swansea City 1–0 CD Leganés
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday, 1st August 2026 | Swansea.com Stadium
Swansea City completed their pre-season preparations with a 1–0 victory over Spanish side CD Leganés on Saturday afternoon. New signing Joseph Opoku scored the decisive goal at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The friendly was the final chance for head coach Vitor Matos to assess his squad before competitive action begins. The Swans produced a composed display based on possession, pressing and patient build-up play.
For supporters, the match was a welcome return to the stadium. Many fans were eager to see the squad before the new campaign officially begins.
A Welcome Return to Matchday
After a summer away from live football, it was fantastic to be back watching the Swans again. The match was a chance to reconnect with the stadium atmosphere, familiar faces and the excitement of a new season.
Tickets were available for £10 for the pre-season fixture. Due to lower demand compared with competitive matches, supporters were seated in the West Stand only.
My season ticket is normally located in the Upper East Stand. This change provided a different matchday experience.
Sitting closer to the dugouts gave me a better view of the players and coaching staff. It also meant seeing Swansea City head coach Vitor Matos in action. His passion and animated approach on the touchline were clear throughout the afternoon.
Pre-Match Visit to Theatre Bistro Swansea
Before kick-off, I met friends at the newly opened Theatre Bistro Swansea, located on Neath Road near the former Landore Cinema site and opposite the stadium.
The venue has quickly become an exciting addition to the local area, providing supporters with another option for food and drink before matchdays.
A full review of Theatre Bistro Swansea can be found here:
Fans Get First Look at The Foundry Club Shop
On the way to the stadium, supporters were also getting their first opportunity to visit the newly refurbished Swansea City club shop, The Foundry.
Unfortunately, due to the long queues, I decided to leave exploring the new retail space for another day. The redevelopment has transformed the club shop into a larger, modern destination for supporters, with the new home kit available ahead of the friendly fixture.
More information about The Foundry can be found here:
https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-set-launch-foundry
Opoku Strike Secures Swansea Victory
The Swans controlled much of the match and showed encouraging signs of the style Vitor Matos is looking to establish, with Swansea dominating possession for long periods and quickly pressing when losing the ball.
Leganés created the first opening of the game, but Swansea soon settled into their rhythm, with Elijah Just going close and Marko Stamenic forcing a save from distance.
The breakthrough arrived shortly before half-time.
After pressure from Adam Idah forced an error in the Leganés defence, the goalkeeper came out of his area to clear the danger. The ball fell kindly to Joseph Opoku, who showed excellent composure to strike from distance into an unguarded net.
The goal was a confident finish from the Ghana international, who continues to adapt following his move to Swansea.
Positive Signs Ahead of Competitive Action
Swansea continued to look comfortable after the interval, maintaining possession and controlling large periods of the game despite a number of substitutions.
Opoku came close to adding a second, while Leganés created opportunities of their own, including a chance that was well dealt with by Lawrence Vigouroux.
One of the positives was the return of Zan Vipotnik, who made a substitute appearance after missing recent friendlies through injury, giving him valuable minutes before the start of the competitive campaign.
Although pre-season results should always be viewed with caution, there were encouraging signs from Swansea’s performance.
The team moved the ball confidently, showed good organisation and demonstrated the pressing style that Vitor Matos wants to introduce. However, there remain areas where further strengthening could be beneficial, particularly in midfield and improving efficiency in the final third.
Swansea City v CD Leganes | Pre-Season | Highlights
Emotional Moments Around the Stadium
The afternoon also included some memorable moments away from the action.
The playing of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” around the stadium created a special atmosphere, especially following the recent passing of the Welsh music legend.
There was also a touching and amusing moment as Cyril the Swan appeared on the pitch without Cybil the Swan. The timing alongside the song almost felt like a reminder that even mascots can miss their partners!
Supporters also showed their appreciation for Gonçalo Franco, who received applause from fans after appearing near the stands. The midfielder faces a spell on the sidelines after undergoing successful surgery on an ankle ligament injury, with a recovery period expected to keep him out for around 10 to 12 weeks.
Birmingham City Next for Swansea City
Attention now turns to competitive football, with Swansea City hosting Birmingham City in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
Swansea City v Birmingham City
Saturday, 8th August 2026
3pm Kick-Off
Swansea.com Stadium
The fixture will provide a much clearer indication of Swansea’s progress, with Birmingham also competing in the Championship.
Tickets have already been secured, and anticipation is building for the first competitive match of the new campaign.
Tickets are available here:
https://www.swanseacity.com/news/tickets-sale-birmingham-city-carabao-cup-fixture
Final pre-season result: Swansea City 1–0 CD Leganés
Come on you Swans! 🦢
Useful Links
- Theatre Bistro Swansea Review – Read our pre-match dining experience before heading to the Swansea.com Stadium.
https://satisfy-your-taste.co.uk/2026/08/02/theatre-bistro-swansea-review/ - Swansea City – The Foundry Club Shop – Find out more about the club’s newly refurbished retail store ahead of the new season.
The Foundry Club Shop Launch - Swansea City Tickets – Purchase tickets and find the latest ticket information for upcoming fixtures.
Swansea City Ticket Information - Carabao Cup: Swansea City v Birmingham City – Ticket details for Swansea City’s opening competitive fixture of the 2026/27 season.
Birmingham City Carabao Cup Tickets - Official Swansea City Website – The latest club news, fixtures, results and player updates.
Swansea City AFC