Granada CF beat Mallorca 2-0 at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes on Monday, in a match corresponding to the second matchday of the Segunda División season.
The result supports the view that this year's Granada squad is stronger than last season's, with the team overcoming a strong Mallorca side, one of the best in the division, while playing an organised game that kept attacking intent throughout.
Alemañ breaks the deadlock
The match opened with an early chance for Fuentes of Mallorca, who almost put his side ahead. Fuentes then had what looked like a goal ruled out for offside. Granada recovered from that opening spell and began to show the convincing football that would define their performance.
Rodelas went close with a header before Álex Alemañ turned the game in Granada's favour, twisting inside the area to score and put the home side 1-0 up in the 20th minute. Manager Pacheta's team kept pushing forward with an attacking approach, and Jose Arnaiz also had a chance to add a second before the break.
Mallorca protest the second goal
Mallorca started the second half on top but without creating clear danger. As the game progressed, it became more balanced, with Granada dominating for spells. The decisive goal came from a corner in the 81st minute, when Mallorca's Arnau Puigmal turned the ball into his own net.
Some Mallorca players protested the goal, arguing that there had been no coordination between the corner being taken and the moment the referee signalled for it.
Match details
Granada lined up with Raúl Lizoain in goal; Sergio López (replaced by Óscar, 70th minute), Manu Lama, Bourama and Diallo in defence; Rubén Alcaraz, Gumbau and Alemañ (replaced by Gambín, 81st minute) in midfield; and Rodelas (replaced by Kader, 58th minute), Jose Arnaiz (replaced by Owen, 46th minute) and Chinaza (replaced by Marqués, 58th minute) up front.
Mallorca fielded Arnau Tenas in goal; Calatayud (replaced by Arnau Puigmal, 59th minute), Raíllo, Valjent and Toni Lato in defence; Morlanes, Álex Sala and Roca (replaced by Liso, 59th minute), Lukumbo (replaced by Antonio Sánchez, 85th minute) in midfield; and Pablo Torres (replaced by Cerdá, 69th minute) and Fuentes (replaced by Buksa, 69th minute) in attack.
The goals were scored by Alemañ in the 20th minute for 1-0, and by Puigmal, in his own net, in the 81st minute for 2-0.
The referee, Saúl Ais of the Comité Valenciano, showed a yellow card to Gumbau of Granada in first-half stoppage time, and to Raíllo (82nd minute) and Cerdá (89th minute) of Mallorca.
Official attendance for the match, played at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes, was 13,361.
Next fixture
Granada's start to the league season continues to go well, helped by what has been described as intelligent use of substitutions, a run the club will look to extend in its next match. Granada travel to face Córdoba on Sunday, 30 August, with kick-off at 21:30.
