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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
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Mallorca157351513224
6Athletic Bilbao146532013723
7Osasuna146441922-322
8GironaGirona146352018221
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia132471321-810
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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