Spanish La Liga
GranadaGranada1Real MadridReal Madrid2

Granada 1-2 Real Madrid: Leaders two points from La Liga title

Ferland Mendy is the 21st goal scorer for Real Madrid this season
Ferland Mendy is the 21st goal scorer for Real Madrid this season

Leaders Real Madrid moved to within one win of the La Liga title after surviving a scare against Granada.

France defender Ferland Mendy opened the scoring with a ferocious finish from a tight angle before countryman Karim Benzema doubled the lead.

But Real were forced to endure a nervous second half after Darwin Machis fired through Thibaut Courtois' legs.

Zinedine Zidane's side are four points clear of nearest rivals Barcelona with two games remaining.

Given Real's superior head-to-head record over Barca, Real require two points from their final two games, at home to fifth-placed Villarreal on Thursday and at relegation-threatened Leganes on Sunday, to win the league.

"We have to be happy and rest up for Thursday," said Real boss Zidane after his side's ninth successive win since La Liga resumed in June.

"We will be back training on Tuesday and we will be back on the pitch on Thursday. The final minutes were tough. Granada made us defend a lot in the second half."

Gareth Bale was once again an unused substitute as Real scored twice in six first-half minutes before the hosts hit back.

Gareth Bale was an unused substitute against Granada
Gareth Bale was an unused substitute against Granada

Skipper Sergio Ramos made a crucial clearance off the line to deny Ramon Azeez a dramatic equaliser in the closing stages.

Wales forward Bale, who has been at Real since 2013, has started just 12 La Liga matches this season.

He has not played since being substituted in the 2-0 win over Mallorca on 24 June.

Line-ups

Granada

Formation 3-4-3

  • 1Dantas da Silva
  • 16DíazSubstituted forRodríguez Díazat 45'minutes
  • 6Sánchez
  • 22Coutinho Meneses DuarteBooked at 46mins
  • 2FoulquierSubstituted forMontoroat 54'minutes
  • 21HerreraSubstituted forCortés Herediaat 75'minutes
  • 12Azeez
  • 17Bastião DiasBooked at 58mins
  • 14Vico VillegasSubstituted forEtekiat 75'minutes
  • 24Fernández
  • 23MachísSubstituted forKöybasiat 84'minutes

Substitutes

  • 8Eteki
  • 9Soldado
  • 10Rodríguez Díaz
  • 11Köybasi
  • 13Escandell
  • 15Neva
  • 18Cortés Heredia
  • 19Montoro
  • 31Rodríguez
  • 39Sanchez
  • 40Santos da Costa

Real Madrid

Formation 4-3-2-1

  • 13CourtoisBooked at 90mins
  • 2Carvajal
  • 5Varane
  • 4Ramos
  • 23MendyBooked at 17mins
  • 15ValverdeSubstituted forAsensioat 63'minutes
  • 14Casemiro
  • 8Kroos
  • 10Modric
  • 22IscoSubstituted forRodrygoat 64'minutes
  • 9Benzema

Substitutes

  • 1Areola
  • 3Militão
  • 7E Hazard
  • 11Bale
  • 17Vázquez
  • 20Asensio
  • 21Díaz
  • 25Vinícius Júnior
  • 26Altube
  • 27Rodrygo
  • 39Hernández
  • 47Gutiérrez
Referee:
Santiago Jaime Latre

Match Stats

Home TeamGranadaAway TeamReal Madrid
Possession
Home38%
Away62%
Shots
Home13
Away11
Shots on Target
Home4
Away5
Corners
Home5
Away3
Fouls
Home18
Away18

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Granada CF 1, Real Madrid 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Granada CF 1, Real Madrid 2.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Gil Dias (Granada CF) header from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ángel Montoro with a cross following a corner.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Granada CF. Conceded by Raphael Varane.

  5. Booking

    Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card.

  6. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ángel Montoro (Granada CF) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Gil Dias with a cross.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Luka Modric (Real Madrid).

  8. Post update

    Yan Eteki (Granada CF) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Attempt missed. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Rodrygo.

  10. Post update

    Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Germán Sánchez (Granada CF).

  12. Post update

    Offside, Real Madrid. Marco Asensio tries a through ball, but Karim Benzema is caught offside.

  13. Post update

    Attempt missed. Gil Dias (Granada CF) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ángel Montoro with a cross following a set piece situation.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Karim Benzema (Real Madrid).

  15. Post update

    Ángel Montoro (Granada CF) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Ramón Azeez (Granada CF) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Antonio Puertas.

  17. Post update

    Attempt saved. Antoñin (Granada CF) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Carlos Fernández with a headed pass.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Granada CF. Ismail Köybasi replaces Darwin Machís.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Karim Benzema (Real Madrid).

  20. Post update

    Germán Sánchez (Granada CF) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Monday 13th July 2020

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Real Madrid36258366224483
2Barcelona36247580364479
3Atl Madrid361715448262266
4Sevilla361812653341966
5Villarreal361761358471157
6Getafe361412104334954
7Real Sociedad36166145547854
8Ath Bilbao361312114132951
9Valencia361311124552-750
10Granada36148144644250
11Osasuna361212124251-948
12Levante36127174351-843
13Real Betis361011154756-941
14Real Valladolid36815132940-1139
15Eibar36109173651-1539
16Celta Vigo36715143546-1136
17Alavés3699183253-2136
18Leganés36711182649-2332
19Mallorca3695223761-2432
20Espanyol3659222757-3024
View full Spanish La Liga table