Fran Rico netted a 79th-minute equaliser as Granada held Real Sociedad to a 1-1 draw at Los Carmenes tonight.
Carlos Vela stroked home a first-half penalty to give Sociedad a slender, yet deserved 1-0 lead at the break.
Bottom-of-the-table Granada emerged much the better side after the break, however, and found themselves rewarded for their patience when Rico also converted a penalty to rescue a point.
Relive all of the action with Sports Mole's live commentary below.
Good evening and you're very welcome to our live text commentary of Real Sociedad's visit to second-from-bottom Granada at Los Carmenes. David Moyes's Sociedad are hunting back-to-back La Liga victories for the first time in a relegation-threatened season, having shocked Barcelona last weekend, while the hosts are without a league victory since way back in September - 13 games!
We'll have a closer look at both sides a little later, but first let's get cracking on a bit of team news, shall we? Why not. Stay tuned.
GRANADA XI: Oier; Nyom, Mainz, Babin, Fran Rico; Marquez, Iturra, Foulquier, Sissoko; El Arabi, Bangoura
SOCIEDAD XI: Rulli; C Martinez, Ansotegi, Inigo Martinez, de la Bella; Elustondo, Prieto, Canales, Pardo; Vela, Castro
GRANADA SUBS: Roberto; Héctor Yuste, Piti, Riki, Ortuño, Success y Marcelo
SOCIEDAD SUBS: Mikel, Finnbogason, Agirretxe, Yuri, Gaztañaga, Hervías.
We'll start with Sociedad and I can tell you that Moyseh makes two changes from that surprise 1-0 won over Barca in their last league outing, with Markel Bergara and Esteban Granero dropping out of midfield for Gorka Elustondo and Ruben Pardo.
It's the same back four of Carlos Martinez, Ion Ansotegi, Inigo Martinez and Alberto de la Bella, while Carlos Vela and Gonzalo Castro continue up top.
We'll be seeing three changes by the hosts from their 2-0 defeat at Cordoba last time out, with Lass Bangoura poised for his Liga debut with El Grana.
Lass, who signed on loan from Rayo Vallecano recently, replaces Jhon Cordoba to partner Youssef El Arabi up front. Joaoquin Caparros makes two more changes in midfield as Abdoul Sissoko and Manuel Iturra come in at the expense of Piti and Juan Carlos.
Let's have a quick look at Sociedad and those of you hoping that Moyes's failings will unearth a Spanish Andy Tate might be disappointed, because the Scot is doing quite well thus far. With two wins, three draws and one defeat from his first six La Liga outings, it is fair to say that Moyes is doing a decent enough job for the Basque club so far, and another win here would see them move five points clear of danger.
They could, and certainly should, pick up that victory, too, because Granada, as discussed earlier, have been truly woeful this season. Caparros's side are without a victory since beating Athletic Bilbao back in September, picking up five points from a possible 39! Sociedad will be bitterly disappointed if they don't push Granada further toward relegation while boosting their own survival hopes in the process.
PREDICTION: Right, so we're around seven minutes from kickoff, so let's try make a pre-match prediction, shall we? Of course, and I can't see anything but a Sociedad win. They're a team on the rise under Senor Moyes, while Granada just aren't good enough to pick up anything I don't think. 3-1 Sociedad. There we go.
UPDATE: Incidentally, Granada now sit BOTTOM of La Liga after Elche only went to San Mames and beat Athletic Bilbao a moment ago. A big game just got that bit bigger for Caparros and co this evening. Kickoff in two minutes.
KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're officially off at Los Carmenes. Granada, in their home red kit, get us underway. I fancy a good game here. Let's go.
Lively start here as Granada apply some early pressure, with Javi Marquez rifling a shot at goal, but it's blocked by Carlos Martinez before it can worry Geronimo Rulli.
Huge block from Inigo Martinez, as the Sociedad centre back stabs the ball away before it can reach the unmarked Lass Bangoura. If early indications are anything to go by then Granada fancy their chances tonight.
Wonderful play from Youssouf Fulquier, who comfortably beats Elustondo before fizzing a great ball into the box, but Rulli beats away the cross-come-shot before El Arabi can stab home. They're playing like a club who have no intention of staying bottom of La Liga.
SHOT! We've seen our first shot, but it's a shocker, as El Arabi capitalises on a loose ball from Vela before galloping at goal and firing over the bar - and probably out of stadium. If Spain have any satellites they might want to move them.
Sociedad look to have weathered the worst of that early storm and they're finding themselves in a bit more possession in recent minutes, but they're yet to really threaten in Granada's final third.
CHANCE! Sociedad really growing into this one now and they very nearly go ahead, as Canales latches on to Vela's over-the-top ball, but he's got Nyam and Babing in hot pursuit and his hurried near-post effort is beaten away by Oier. Best chance of the game.
Really good play from Canales, who makes a mug of Fran Rico before being fouled just outside the box. Pardo is going to whip it in, and there's plenty of whip on it but it rebounds off Vela and goes out for a goal kick. Sociedad the better team since that dreadful El Arabi shot.
SHOT! Canales is running the show for Sociedad here ladies and gents, and he's just taken aim from around 30 yards, but his left-footed effort sails just over the bar. It was never troubling Oier, though.
SHOT! Sociedad continue to turn the screw without much success, as Vela tries to come into the game a bit more by having a shot from just outside the box but, like Canales's previous effort, it's not troubling Oier.
CHANCE! Oh it could, and should, be 1-0 to the hosts, but Lass, with just Rulli to beat, heads wide and El Arabi isn't tall enough to poke it home. You wonder if they're going to regret that. Far and away the best chance of the game.
BOOKING: Carlos Vela goes into the book for an alleged elbow on Rico it seems. It looked like an honest attempt to win an aerial challenge to me. Meanwhile, Youssouf El Arabi is also booked just now for a similar offence. The ref has set a precedent now.
Incidentally, Granada have only netted 10 times all season, so we probably shouldn't expect miracles from them tonight. Lass Bangoura could be a huge asset in their survival bid, though. The Rayo Vallecano loanee looks quite a decent player so far.
SAVE! Oh what a fine save this is from Oier, who gets down so well to thwart Inigo Martinez's header from Vela's cross. Shocking defending it must be said, but a ridiculously good save to spare Granada's blushes then.
PENALTY TO SOCIEDAD!!!
GOAL!!! GRANADA 0-1 SOCIEDAD (Carlos Vela penalty)
Superb penalty from Vela, who is as nonchalant as anything as he strokes home the opening goal. Jean Sylvain Babin was booked after he was adjudged to have pulled Canales and prevented from reaching Vela's initial cross. Probably the right decision.
CLOSE! Sociedad have their tails up now and Abdou Sissoko very nearly scores a fine own goal, as Canales's cut-back pass is inadvertently met by the returning Sissoko, whose shot skims the side-netting.
Five minutes left in the half and Granada look determined to use every second of it wisely, as Sissoko gallops down the left-hand flank but, instead of taking a touch, plays a first-time ball across the face of the box to El Arabi, but Martinez clears the danger. He might've taken a touch and saw Bougera at the edge of the area.
Granada have themselves a free kick on the edge of the box now, and this will be whipped in by Manuel Iturra. Let's see what it brings.
SAVE! It was actually Fran Rico, who goes for goal with that free kick and Rulli has to claw it out for a corner. Wasn't far away at all. We're going into the break 0-1, though.
HALF TIME: GRANADA 0-1 REAL SOCIEDAD
So, Sociedad lead 1-0 at the break, and the Granada fans weren't impressed at all, signalling their frustrations with mass whistles, but it's been a promising first-half performance from Granada overall.
They haven't scored, but they've had chances. Lass Bangoura had the best chance by heading wide from around three yards out, while El Arabi failed to find the target with a shot inside the box, but the hosts don't look a team rooted to the foot of La Liga.
Sociedad, vying for their first away win of the season, have been alright, and they'll believe that they can score more, but there was one or two warning signs in that first half.
RESTART! Aaaaaaaaaaaand we're back underway. Sociedad, winning 1-0 courtesy of Carlos Vela's penalty, kick us off once more.
SUB: Dimitri Foulquier hasn't appeared for the second half, and he's been replaced by 34-year-old Riki for this second half. He'll partner El Arabi up top as Granada seek a route back into the game.
CHANCE! El Arabi might've done better here, but the ball bounced up nicely for him after bouncing off de la Bella, but the Moroccon's first-time volley is well over the bar, much to the frustration of the home fans.
PENALTY APPEAL! Lass Bangoura wants a penalty, and he might've had a case. He's been brilliant this evening, and he turns de la Bella inside out before going to ground very, very easily, but his shirt was being pulled, which is a foul, so it's a tricky one for the referee. It looked a dive, but he might've just been highlighting the fact that he was being fouled.
CHANCE! Another very decent chance for El Arabi, who sneaks in behind Inigo Martinez to reach Riki's fantastic cross, but he doesn't get the cleanest of contact on the header and Sociedad avert the danger.
Granada started the first half in similar fashion, before their momentum petered out. They have to build on this promising start because another goal for Sociedad and it's curtains.
Lass Bangoura looks a player. His Rayo Vallecano contract is up in the summer, but if he replicates these performances regularly throughout his loan spell with Granada then he might be groomed for bigger things. His final ball looks to be lacking, but he's got electric pace, and the close control to utilise it.
SUB: Second substitution by Granada now, as the much-maligned Youssouf El Arabi makes way for the brilliantly-named Isaac Success. What a fantastic name.
SHOT! Sociedad just remind Granada of their attacking qualities now as Vela looks to bend the ball around Oier, but the Granada keeper is equal to it.
Success has moved to the right-hand side, with the jet-heeled Bangoura now operating in a central role for Granada. It's an exciting prospect, and the Sociedad centre-halves - Inigo Martinez and Ion Insotegi - won't be happy to see that tactical switch at all.
Granada bossing possession now, but they haven't really tested Rulli in this second half as of yet. They need to start converting this possession into chances before long.
OFF THE POST! Granada turning the screw and they're getting closer, as Allan Nyom ventures forward and hits the post from around 30 yards. On reflection, goalkeeper Rulli might've actually tipped it on to the post, which makes it a fine save. I'm starting to feel a little sorry for Granada. Their heads certainly haven't dropped and they probably deserve at least a point on the balance of play.
We're into the final 20 minutes and Caparros will wonder how his side haven't managed to score yet; plenty of guts, plenty of possession, but not enough chances and that's hindering them so far.
It's all gone a little flat in the last few minutes, with neither side managing much it has to be said. Granada still seeing plenty of the ball, but Moyes's side holding up well at the back thus far.
PENALTY TO GRANADA!!!!
Granada could, and definitely should, level up now after Ruben Pardo fouls Nyom in the box. Let's see.
GOAL!!!! GRANADA 1-1 REAL SOCIEDAD (Fran Rico penalty)
It's nothing more than they deserved, and it's all level. Fran Rico steps up and strokes it down the middle, with Rulli diving over the ball a little. There's a bit of luck involved there, but they've deserved an equaliser for their enterprise tonight.
We've got an intriguing last seven minutes or so here my friends, because either side could win this - but will they want to? Hopefully, because it's been a good game and it wouldn't be very nice to see it peter out.
Granada look the most likely to score now as Inigo Martinez is forced head away Marquez's excellent cross, but the corner comes to nothing after Babin heads over the bar.
We're going to see Sociedad whip the ball into the box from a free kick now after Carlos Vela did excellently well to win the free kick. Here goes nothing...
CLOSE! Piti, who just replaced Marquez, looks to become an instant hero by scoring with his first touch from a free kick, but his effort sails just past the post. Been a good game this, but there could yet be another twist.
THREE MINUTES ADDED ON:
Brilliant defending from Alberto de la Bella, who gets back in the nick of time to clear the danger and prevent Lass from tapping home Isaac Success's wonderful cross.
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
