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Valencia logo
La Liga
Sep 25, 2015 at 7.30pm UK
 
Granada logo

1-0

Mustafi (26')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Valencia edge out Granada

Shkodran Mustafi scores against Granada in the first half to give Valencia their first home win of the La Liga season.

Valencia have secured their first home win of the La Liga season, beating Granada 1-0 at the Mestalla this evening.

Valencia's German defender Shkodran Mustafi celebrates his goal during the Spanish league football match Valencia CF vs Granada CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on September 25, 2015© Getty Images

The visitors had the majority of the possession in the opening 15 minutes, but Ruben Rochina's free kick was claimed by the keeper, before Javier Marquez fired the ball high.

Isaac Success kept the pressure coming for Granada, getting into a strong position following a well-taken first touch, but his finish was lacking as he blasted the ball over the bar.

The home side started to see more of the ball midway the first half, with Alvaro Negredo forcing Andres Fernandez to tip the ball behind for a corner, but Zakaria Bakkali's delivery failed to result in an opening goal.

Valencia did break the deadlock a few minutes later as Bakkali delivered another corner for the hosts, this time setting up Shkodran Mustafi to nod the ball in from close range.

Granada came within millimetres of getting back on level terms down the other end moments later as Marquez tried to lob the ball over the keeper after controlling a high ball into the box, but he was denied by the woodwork.

Jaume Domenech had to be alert in the Valencia goal again before the interval as Rochina attempted to curl the ball into the top corner from a free kick, but the keeper made a save at full stretch to keep the hosts in front at the interval.

Negredo thought that he had doubled the home side's lead early in the second half when he burst into the box unmarked, but his finish was ruled out for offside.

Granada started to threaten down the other end as they tried to get back into the match but Domenech pulled off a fingertip save to deny Marquez, before Fran Rico's cross failed to find any of his teammates.

Negredo continued to create problems for the Granada defenders as Valencia tried to put the win beyond doubt, but his well-timed run into the box could not get the better of the keeper, while a Pablo Piatti cross also ended up being taken by Fernandez.

Thievy Bifouma made a last-gasp dash for the Valencia goal in injury time, weaving past a couple of defenders in a bid to find an equaliser, but his shot was blocked.

The result moves Valencia up to sixth in the table, while Granada sit 18th.

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Karim Benzema (R) of Real Madrid CF scores their opening goal against goalkeeper Andres Fernandez (L) of Granada CF during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Granada CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 19, 2015
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Match Analysis: Real Madrid 1-0 Granada
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid33266171224984
2GironaGirona33225669402971
3Barcelona32217464372770
4Atletico MadridAtletico33204962392364
5Athletic Bilbao331610753332058
6Real Sociedad331312846351151
7Real BetisBetis32121284038248
8Valencia32138113534147
9Getafe331013104145-443
10Villarreal32119125155-442
11Osasuna32116153746-939
12AlavesAlaves33108153138-738
13Sevilla32910134145-437
14Las PalmasLas Palmas33107163041-1137
15Rayo Vallecano32713122739-1234
16Mallorca32613132638-1231
17Celta Vigo33710163750-1331
18CadizCadiz32413152245-2325
19Granada3239203361-2818
20Almeria33111213267-3514


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