Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of tonight's La Liga clash between Granada and Real Zaragoza at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes.
Both sides have struggled for form in the early stages of the league campaign and will be keen on three points to ease their early relegation fears.
Granada have gathered eight points from their opening seven league matches to sit 15th in the table, while Zaragoza sit two spots lower and with two less points than their opponents.
The corresponding fixture last season was decided by a singular goal as Granada claimed the points, but Zaragoza recorded the same scoreline on their own patch in April earlier this year.
The home side enter the match with two consecutive league wins against Celta Vigo and Real Mallorca to their name, but Zaragoza have lost their last two against Valencia and Getafe.
Please note that kickoff is at 4.50pm.
6.42pmSo there we have it. Zaragoza move into 15th spot with a 2-1 win over Granada. That just about does it for this match. But join me from 8pm onwards for Sociedad vs. Atletico Madrid. Until then!
FULL-TIMEGranada 1-2 Real Zaragoza
90 min+3Still Granada push forward in search of an equaliser, but Zaragoza have possession at the moment. Change for the away side as Postiga is replaced Javi Alamo.
90 minWe will play an additional four minutes at the end of this match. Four minutes for the home side to secure a point.
88 minThe Zaragoza boss has been sent to the stands by the referee. It appears that he had too much to say about a free kick decision. But still his side lead in the final two minutes.
86 minChange for the away side as Rodriguez is replaced by Edu Oriol. Time is on Zaragoza's side at the moment.
84 minThe match is ever so scrappy at the moment with both sides picking up a host of yellows for dangerous challenges. Just about six minutes of normal time remaining and Zaragoza lead 2-1.
82 minHalf-chance for Postiga to add his second as he advances into the penalty area, but he fires it wide of the target. That was poor from the Portugal striker.
79 minCan Granada force an unlikely point? They are on the attack with little over 10 minutes remaining. You can just sense that there is another goal in this one.
77 minGranada cut the score to 2-1 with 13 minutes remaining as El Arabi heads home from close range.
77 minGOAL! Granada 1-2 Real Zaragoza (El Arabi)
74 minPostiga fires his shot on target, but it is wide of the post and play is restarted. Little over 15 minutes of the match remaining.
72 minRed card: Iriney: The Granada midfielder is dismissed from play for a challenge on Apono outside the penalty area.
71 minBut the effort is poor from Iriney and Roberto collects with ease. That pretty much sums up their performance this evening.
70 minStill no change in the score with 20 minutes remaining. However, Granada have forced a free kick just outside the penalty area.
68 minIt must be said that Zaragoza are ever so comfortable at the moment. Granada have had more of the possession, but chances remain few and far between. Time is not on their side either.
66 minChance! Might have been number three for the away side as Montanes advanced into the Granada box, but he was just crowded out at the vital moment.
64 minNot a great deal to report in terms of chances at the moment. Granada are pushing forward, but they have still not really tested Roberto.
62 minMeanwhile, both sides make changes as Jose Mari replaces Zuculini for Zaragoza and Angulo replaces Torje for the home side.
60 minBit of a scrappy match at the moment with both sides launching into tackles. This will suit Zaragoza. Little under 30 minutes of normal time remaining in Granada.
58 minHalf-chance for Zaragoza as Apono advances into the penalty area, but Gomez is there to clear. No real chances for either side in the past few minutes.
56 minThere is certainly more spark in this Granada side in the second period. However, they are finding it difficult to breach the Zaragoza defence. Just about 35 minutes of the match remaining.
54 minChange for the home side as Ighalo replaces Nyom. Can he inspire his team to a second-half comeback? They need some inspiration.
52 minGranada continue to push forward, but they are leaving gaps in their midfield. Something which Zaragoza have clearly identified. Half-chance for them as Rodriguez fires just wide.
50 minAgain it's bright work from Granada as Lopez searches out the run of Torje, but Abraham is there to clear the danger once more.
48 minMuch better tempo from the home side at the beginning of the second half. However, they are finding it really difficult to penetrate this Zaragoza defence.
46 minHere we go then. Granada kick us off in the second period. They really need an early goal to make it a contest.
5.52pmWe are just moments away from the second period. Just a reminder that a win for Zaragoza would them into 14th. Meanwhile, defeat for Granada would drop them to 17th.
5.49pmJust a reminder that we have live commentary of Real Sociedad versus Atletico Madrid from 8pm this evening. Be sure to join us for that later.
5.46pmIn terms of chances created and attacking invention, it has not been close. You just get the feeling that the next goal could decide this match. If Zaragoza move three ahead then I do not see Granada responding.
5.42pmGranada have had 55% of possession, but they have failed to register a single shot at goal. Meanwhile, Zaragoza have scored with two of their seven attempts.
5.38pmSo there we have it. Goals from Postiga and Rodriguez hand Zaragoza a 2-0 lead over Granada at the interval. Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half.
HALF-TIMEGranada 0-2 Real Zaragoza
45 minWe will play one minute of additional time at the end of the half.
43 minThe tension in this ground can be cut with a knife. The home supporters are not happy and are making their feelings known. Meanwhile, Zaragoza have settled on the ball in the past few moments.
41 minSlightly better from Granada as Rorje attempts to find the run of Al Arabi, but his pass was just too long for the striker.
39 minLittle over five minutes of the half remaining. In truth, Zaragoza have been the better outfit. The attacking threat from Granada has been non-existent.
37 minGranada are lacking a real spark at the moment. El Arabi and Orellana have just not been involved in the match. But one goal could change ths context of the game.
35 minAnother sighter for the away side as Apono strikes a powerful effort from outside the box, but Tono just manages to palm the danger clear.
33 minHalf-chance for Zaragoza to extend their lead as Rodriguez strikes a free kick from outside the box, but it drifts over the crossbar.
31 minPenalty claim for the home side as Abraham appears to handle the ball in the penalty area. However, the referee waves play on. The next goal could decide this match.
29 minIt has been a really impressive opening 30 minutes from Zaragoza. They have not had masses of the ball, but they are such a threat on the counter. The home side need a quick response.
27 minWhat was I saying about falling 2-0 behind? Rodriguez turns home at the near post to send the away side into a two-goal lead.
27 minGOAL! Granada 0-2 Zaragoza (Rodriguez)
26 minStill Granada attempt to force an equaliser with a spell of pressure. But you can just sense the frustration from the home crowd. It is so important that they do not fall 2-0 behind.
24 minIt's really bright play from the away side as Postiga finds Apono in a wide area, but Nyom clears the danger. Zaragoza are a real threat on the counter.
22 minPostiga picks up a yellow card for arguing about the award of a Granada free kick in a wide position. However, the cross is cleared by a towering header from Abraham.
20 minJust a reminder that victory for Zaragoza this evening would move them into 15th spot in the table. They have been fairly comfortable thus far. No real attacking threat from Granada. But we know how quickly that can change.
18 minHalf-chance for the away side as Apono strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was always moving wide of the post. We have not seen much from El Arabi thus far.
16 minRight, now the team news and changes are out the way. Let's get straight into the action. Zaragoza are the team that remain on the attack with 16 minutes on the clock.
13 minHowever, change for the home side as Juanma Ortiz replaces Romero - who appears to have a hamstring problem.
13 minGranada: Tono; Gomez, Nyom, Sigueira, Lopez; Romero, Rico, Torje, Iriney; El Arabi, Orellana
Zaragoza: Roberto; Loovens, Sapunaru, Abraham, Paredes; Apono, Montanes, Movilla, Zuculini; Rodriguez, Postiga
10 minGranada have just settled in the past few moments with Jaime Romero and Mikel Rico enjoying possession of the ball. However, the pace of Rodriguez remains a threat for Zaragoza.
7 minStill the away side make the early running with Postiga linking well in attack. Meanwhile, Jose Villa looks bright in the early stages.
4 minWe will bring you the team news shortly. Apologies for not. We joined the game late due to Espanyol vs. Rayo Vallecano. Back to this match and the away side look the most comfortable on the ball.
2 minZaragoza lead with just two minutes on the clock as Postiga heads home at the near post. What a start!
2 minGOAL! Granada 0-1 Real Zaragoza (Postiga)
1 minLet's join the action straight away with the home side making the most of the early running. All-action start to the match.
4.50pmGood evening/early afternoon! Our penultimate La Liga commentary of the weekend comes from the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes as Granada host Real Zaragoza.
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
