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