FC Andorra and Cultural Leonesa draw 1-1 after epic snow-clearance battle

**FC Andorra and Cultural Leonesa draw 1-1 after epic snow-clearance battle**

Storm Goretti blanketed the Nou Estadi de la FAF in Encamp with nearly 30cm of snow, threatening to cancel Saturday's Primera RFEF clash between FC Andorra and Cultural Leonesa. LaLiga requested the RFEF's Professional Competitions Judge suspend the match due to unsafe conditions, but clubs, referee Saúl Ais Reig and officials agreed to proceed if player safety could be guaranteed. Mechanical equipment couldn't be used on the natural turf, so staff, volunteers and supporters—urged by majority owner Gerard Piqué—shoveled manually for eight hours. Roughly 20 locals from Encamp, youth players and sporting director Jaume Nogués pitched in, with volunteers receiving free tickets. LaLiga approved play at 18:30, drawing 1,121 fans to a slick pitch.

The mid-table sides, both on 24 points pre-match, settled for a point apiece. Leonesa led 1-0 in the 14th minute when Luis Chacón converted a fluid team attack that exposed left-back Álex Calvo. Andorra controlled 72% possession early but created little, with Lautaro de León's header from Manu Nieto's cross their best chance. Coach Carles Manso responded at halftime, substituting Marc Doménech, Aingeru Olabarrieta and Josep Cerdà for Álvaro Martín, Minsu and Nieto. The changes sparked Andorra: Lautaro hit the post twice from Thomas Carrique crosses soon after restart, before Cerdà volleyed home a 57th-minute rebound. Cerdà threatened again, stopped by Edgar Badía, as Leonesa held firm on counters.

Last season's group winners Leonesa had routed Andorra 4-2 in the Copa del Rey at Reino de León—Manso's second outing—but earned just one league point from their previous three games: a Real Sociedad B draw and two losses. Andorra lost at Ceuta after consecutive wins. Manso praised his team's adherence to the plan amid external factors, dismissing set-piece concerns—only two corners conceded all season, both at Ceuta—and any weather edge, citing Leonesa's cold acclimatization. Cuco Ziganda anticipated prolonged defending against Andorra's possession.

Jastin García missed out with a mild external ankle ligament sprain from Ceuta, starting on the bench as a major doubt. Gael Alonso returned from suspension with Bomba at center-back; Jesús Owono was back from Africa Cup of Nations duty and Merquelanz cleared medically. Players one booking from Mirandés suspension: Carrique, Sergio Molina, Minsu. Leonesa welcomed striker Rubén Sobrino after two months sidelined by quadriceps injury but missed Agustín Pastoriza, Pelayo González and Eneko Satrústegui.

**Match line-ups** **FC Andorra**: Yaako; Carrique, Gael Alonso, Molina, Álex Calvo (Imanol 76'); Akman, Villahermosa (Théo Le Normand 88'), Álvaro Martín (Doménech 46'); Minsu (Olabarrieta 46'), Manu Nieto (Cerdà 46'), Lautaro. Coach: Carles Manso. **Cultural Leonesa**: Edgar Badía; Víctor García, Rodri Suárez, Barzic, Hinojo; Selu Diallo (Maestre 64'), Ojeda, Chacón (Bicho 64'); Tresaco, Collado (Manu Justo 71'), Lucas Ribeiro (Larios 64'). Coach: Cuco Ziganda. Referee: Saúl Ais Reig (Valencian committee). Attendance: 1,121.

FC Andorra confirmed 22-year-old winger Yeray Cabanzón on loan from Racing de Santander until season's end, with an optional June buyout; he joins training next week. Almería center-back Edgar González is in Andorra completing paperwork and could play soon. A third signing appears unlikely by the 2 February deadline, given a full squad, tight wage budget and need for two exits: Merquelanz via contract termination and one of Olabarrieta or Cerdà. Earlier striker and right-back targets faded—Carrique's form met needs, Deportivo blocked Petxarroman recall without a buyout offer, and options exceeded budget.

Andorra face third-placed CE Europa in the Copa Catalunya quarter-final at Nou Sardenya on Wednesday 14 January, 20:00.