Granada remain in the Champions League places in La Liga after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Osasuna on Friday evening moved the newly-promoted club up to 3rd place in the table.
Portuguese pair Rui Silva and Domingos Duarte were once again crucial to the win, with Duarte scoring the winner as well as producing some vital defending, while goalkeeper Silva was on-hand to make a match-winning save.
Osasuna’s best chance of the match came before the half hour mark when Brandon was put through on goal, but a super recovery from former Sporting defender Duarte robbed the striker, while Darko Brasanac’s attempt from the rebound was foiled by Silva in the Granada goal.
The combined work of the Portuguese proved crucial when Duarte scored the only goal of the game from a set-piece on 38 minutes. The 24-year-old headed home Vadillo’s corner for his second goal in as many games, having also found the net in Granada’s 4-2 defeat at Real Madrid before the international break.
Granada’s defence is proving a major aspect of their early season success, having kept clean sheets in three consecutive home wins. The form of ex-Nacional ‘keeper Silva and the goalscoring Duarte has been a major factor in such results, and will no doubt continue to draw the interest of Seleção boss Fernando Santos.
By Sean Gillen
