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Granada logo
La Liga
Aug 26, 2013 at 8pm UK
 
Real Madrid logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-1)
Benzema (10')

Live Commentary: Granada 0-1 Real Madrid - as it happened

Live updates from Real Madrid's second game of the new La Liga season against Granada.
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A first-half strike from Karim Benzema was enough to give Real Madrid all three points in their La Liga match with Granada this evening.

Mesut Ozil thought that he had doubled the visitors' lead, but his goal was ruled out.

The home side thought that they should have had a penalty inside the last five minutes when Diego Buononotte was brought down, but the referee turned down their appeals.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good evening, with just under half an hour until kickoff at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes, let's take a look at the teams for tonight's match...

GRANADA STARTING XI: Roberto, Nyom, Mainz, Diakhate, Angulo, Yebda, Brahimi, Benitez, Iturra, Piti, El Arabi

REAL MADRID STARTING XI: Lopez, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Ronaldo, Ozil, Modric, Di Maria, Isco, Benzema

GRANADA SUBSTITUTES: Karnezis, Murillo, Rico, Buonanotte, Garcia, Fatau, Riki

REAL MADRID SUBSTITUTES: Casillas, Carvajal, Fernandes, Kaka, Casemiro, Jese, Morata

Youssef El Arabi and Hassan Yebda will be looking to continue their strong start in front of goal for the home side this evening. The duo both found the back of the net in the first half to help Granada to a 2-1 win over Osasuna last Sunday.

Summer signing Isco keeps his place in the starting lineup for the visitors, having made his league debut last week. Ancelotti has made just one change for tonight's game, as Daniel Carvajal drops to the bench, allowing Angel di Maria to make his first La Liga start this season.

In a press conference ahead of this evening's game, the Real Madrid manager said that he was keen to use Cristiano Ronaldo as a striker, and is optimistic that he will be able to work well with Karim Benzema up front: "I think, as I said, Ronaldo can play in the centre. But this does not change anything for Karim. They play a good mix of the two. There is no problem playing together. Karim is a player who likes to move and does not have a fixed position on the field."

The two sides head into the game level on points, but Granada manager Lucas Alcaraz told Spain's AS that his side are focusing on avoiding relegation rather than matching Los Blancos: Last week there were many doubts about the pre-season and we gave a strong response in Pamplona. And now everyone thinks in a much more optimistic way than before. The objective is to stay up but we will not always be in this debate. Let's just try to enjoy ourselves and compete. The feelings are changing."

Of course, all the talk has been about the potential arrival of Gareth Bale at Real Madrid. The most recent reports suggest that the club could face competition for the Welshman's signature.

The players have just come out of the tunnel ready for this evening's clash. There's just time to make a prediction before kickoff. It's hard to see Granada matching their opponents this evening, but I expect them to make it difficult for the visitors early on. I can see Real winning this 3-1, with a strong second-half display.

Real Madrid get the first half underway.

The visitors are quickly on the attack with Ronaldo tearing down the left wing, but Mainz is on hand to force the ball out. Granada look to go on the counter, but Pepe makes a strong block to clear the danger.

Granada win the first corner of the match. Benitez's first delivery is immediately but behind for a second corner, but this time the Granada midfielder finds the box, but Lopez is able to punch it away for Real.

CHANCE! Benzema creates a chance for himself, breaking from midfield before lifting his shot over Roberto, only for it to go just wide. The visitors are back on the attack though, with Modric and Isco linking up in midfield.

CHANCE! Isco wins the ball and looks for a way into the Granada penalty area, but his cross is blocked. Granada clear as far as Di Maria, who takes a shot from outside the box, but his finish lacks power, giving Roberto a comfortable stop.

CHANCE! Los Blancos have really hit their stride early on. Benzema tries to drive the ball in, but Roberto gets a hand to it, giving the visitors their first corner of the match, which the Granada keeper is able to clear.

GOAL! Granada 0-1 Real Madrid (Benzema)

Isco sends the ball in for Ronaldo, but the Portuguese winger makes a rare mistake, failing to control the pass. Luckily for him, Benzema had followed the pass in, and was able to pounce, smashing the ball in from close range to give Madrid the lead just 10 minutes in.

Real almost get a chance to double their lead straight away, with Isco creating the move yet again. However, Granada are more alert at the back this time around, and launch the ball down the other end, where the home side quickly win a corner.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Real get the ball in the back of the net again, Ozil chipping over Roberto after Di Maria took a quick free kick. However, the referee isn't happy, and the goal is wiped off. It looks like the officials think the ball was moving when the free kick was taken. Ozil gets another chance moments later, but this time Roberto makes the save.

CHANCE! Granada win a corner, which Ramos initially manages to clear, but El Arabi is waiting on the edge of the box to volley to ball back in. Lopez manages to block the shot before Ramos makes another clearance for the visitors. Granada may not be seeing as much of the ball as their opponents, but they do look threatening when they manage to break.

Arbeloa looks to cross the ball in towards Di Maria, but Angola makes a superb block, before booting the ball away from the Granada penalty area. The hosts look to counter attack, but concede a free kick just inside the Real half.

Piti wins a free kick for Granada after clashing with Ramos in midfield, but Madrid quickly win the ball back. Arbeloa breaks down the sideline before crossing in towards Benzema. The striker misses the pass, but Ronaldo is waiting behind him, but he scuffs his shot, giving Granada an easy clearance.

Granada win a free kick in a dangerous position. Daniel Benitez's effort easily finds it way through a pretty poor wall of Real players, but Lopez comfortably gathers the effort.

Benzema picks out Di Maria, who can't get a clear shot on goal, but does manage to win a corner. Ronaldo tries to get win the ball, but Diakhate gets the ball away for the home side. Granada have been well tested at the back so far this evening, but they've looked reasonably well drilled so far.

CHANCE! Arbeloa makes a clearance as Piti tries to slide the ball in from out wide, looking for El Arabi. Real quickly take the ball up the other end, but a high ball into the box from Di Maria has too much pace for Benzema to control.

Madrid are on the attack again, and Ronaldo tries to break free from the Granada defence, but he goes too soon and if caught offside before Isco manages to deliver the ball in for Portugal international.

BOOKING! Pepe picks up the first yellow card of the evening for a wild lunge at Piti, which gives Granada a free kick out wide around 20 yards out, which is easily cleared by Ramos, who has been excellent at the back for Real in the first half.

BOOKING! Marcelo joins his teammate in the referee's book after rather clumsily running into the back of Brahimi. The visitors are starting to show a few signs of frustration as half time approaches.

Real win a free kick around 30 yards out. Ronaldo lines it up, but smashes his delivery straight into the wall.

Ancelotti's side seem happy just to keep the ball in midfield, but a gap opens up for Di Maria and he tries to find his way into the box, before looking to set up Ronaldo, but Granada continue to defend well, with Nyom making the clearance.

CHANCE! Brahimi concedes a free kick 20 yards out, which is curled in by Ozil. Pepe tries to head the ball in but Roberto is able to make the save.

HALF TIME: Granada 0-1 Real Madrid

Karim Benzema's 10th-minute strike separates the sides at half time. Real Madrid dominated the opening 20 minutes, and had a second goal ruled out, but Granada have defended well to keep themselves in the game, and looked more confident on the attack towards the end of the first half.

Ozil thought that he had added a second for Real in the 16th minute, but the referee was not convinced that the ball was still ahead of the Di Maria free kick that led to the strike. The midfielder had been relatively quiet up until then, but has clearly been looking to make amends since.

Let's take a look at some of the stats from the opening 45 minutes. Real created the most chances, having eight attempts at goal compared to Granada's two. However, only half of Madrid's attempts were on target, while both of the home side's shots tested Lopez. Madrid had 71% of the possession, but also managed to pick up two yellow cards.

Both of Real Madrid's yellow cards came during Granada's strongest spell, which saw the home side stretch the back four on a number of occasions. If Granada manage to continue to second half of they ended the first, Real's defenders will need to watch their discipline.

SUB! There's a second-half change for Granada, with Riki coming on for El Arabi.

Granada get the second half underway.

Isco takes a shot from outside the box, but it's well off target. It's rather a waste as he had teammates waiting in the box. Granada go on the counter, but Riki and Ramos clash heads inside the penalty area, bringing both physios onto the pitch.

Madrid win a corner. Ramos initially picks up the delivery, flicking it back for Ronaldo, who attempts to volley his shot, but he gets the timing wrong, and Granada clear the ball.

CHANCE! Nyom tangles with Ronaldo on the wing, eventually conceding a corner. Ramos rises high around six yards out, timing his header well, but Roberto just manages to tip the ball away.

BOOKING! Piti picks up a knock so goes off for treatment. He tries to get the referee's attention as he waits to come back on the pitch, but comes on before getting permission, earning himself a yellow card.

PENALTY APPEAL! Benitez curls in a corner for Granada. Arbeloa puts it behind, but the home players are convinced that he used his hand, and look to the referee for a spot kick, but he only awards a corner. Looking at the replays, it appears to have actually come off the defender's shoulder.

Ozil produces a brilliant run through midfield before crossing to Ronaldo on the edge of the box. The midfielder has support in the penalty area but takes on the shot himself, but Angulo blocks his effort.

SUB! Real Madrid make their first change of the game, bringing on Nacho Fernandez in place of Marcelo.

OFF THE POST! Isco beats Iturra on the edge of the box, before drilling it towards goal from out wide. Roberto gets his fingertips to it, but it's the post that actually keeps it out.

SUB! Ancelotti makes another change, bringing off Ozil, who takes his time making his way to the touchline before heading straight down the tunnel. Casemmiro takes his place.

CHANCE! Benzema has a great change to add his second of the night, picking up the ball from Isco on the edge of the box, but his poweful strike finishes just wide.

SUB! Hassan Yebda goes off for the hosts, with Fran Rico coming off the bench.

Both sides are struggling to keep possession at the moment, resulting in some rather scrappy play. Granada attempt a long ball forward, but there's no-one there to pick it up, while a Madrid throw-in from inside the visitors' half quickly ends up with Lopez.

CHANCE! Granada manage to find their way through the Madrid midfield, before Piti unleashes a powerful strike from just outside the box, but Lopez saves.

SUB! The home side make their final change of the night, bringing Diego Buonanotte for Daniel Benitez, who has put in a strong performance this evening.

CHANCE! A long ball foreward drops at Ronaldo's feet. He's being closely marked by Diakate, but manages to break free to have a shot, but he smashes to ball straight at Roberto. It's been a frustrating evening for the Portuguese winger.

BOOKING! Ronaldo is on the ball again, but is hacked down by Manuel Iturra before he can get his show away, resulting in a booking for the Granada midfielder. Ronaldo takes the resulting free kick, but it's blocked by the wall.

Modric has been kept fairly quiet this evening, but he leads some patient build-up in midfield, before trying to slot the ball through to Di Maria, but there's too much pace on the ball for the midfielder to control.

PENALTY APPEAL! Granada are looking for a penalty again as Buonanotte is sent tumbling following a challenge from Casemiro. Looking at the replays, they've got a point! The Madrid man clatters into the back of the Granada midfielder right in front of goal.

BOOKING! The players surround the referee as they continue their appeals, and Brahimi is shown a yellow card for his protests.

BOOKING! Diego Mainz is shown a yellow card for bringing down Ronaldo on the edge of the box. Ronaldo takes the free kick, but once again he fails to clear the wall.

CHANCE! Ronaldo reclaims the ball following his free kick attempt, finding Benzema inside the box, but the striker's effort it put wide for a corner, which is comfortably cleared.

SUB! Daniel Caravjal takes the place of Angel Di Maria for the visitors.

Real are really pushing for a second goal to make sure they take all three points. However, the home side manage to snatch the ball away from the visitors, with Piti beating Pepe on the edge of the box before crossing towards Riki, but Lopez punches the ball away.

Granada are finishing really strongly. The hosts win a free kick and Piti loops it over the wall, but Lopez is alert again and palms the danger away.

FULL TIME: Granada 0-1 Real Madrid

Despite some desperate attacking in stoppage time, Granada can't find the equaliser. Lucas Alcaraz's men will feel hard done to as they should have had a penalty earlier in the half, but the visitors defended well to hang on for all three points.

Looking at the final stats, it would probably be wrong to say that Real Madrid did not deserve the win. They had 21 shots to Granada's eight, seeing 66% of the possession. They may not have played their best football, but Carlo Ancelotti's side maintain their 100% record.

Well that's all from this match, but stick around for the match reports and reaction to all of this evening's games from the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A. Thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.

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