Real Valladolid welcome relegation-threatened Granada on Saturday looking to move into the top five with three points at the Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla.
A largely uneventful first half of football brought few chances for either side with the score remaining level at the interval.
The deadlock was eventually broken just past the hour mark, however, when Manucho sent the home side ahead with a tidy finish from inside the box.
Both sides had chances in the remaining 30 minutes of football, but to no avail as Valladolid secured a vital victory.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Afternoon all! Our first Spanish commentary of the day comes from Valladolid as they welcome a struggling Granada outfit. It is still relatively early days in the season, but both sides could elevate themselves with all three points this afternoon.
Teams:
Valladolid: Hernandez; Rukavina, Pena, Balenziaga, Rueda; Oscar, Omar, Rubio, Ebert; Perez, Manucho
Granada: Tono; Nyom, Siqueira, Diakhate, Gomez; Benitez, Rico, Iriney, El Arabi; Orellana, Torje
On paper at least, Valladolid enter the match in the better form. They suffered defeat to Getafe last time out but that was their only league defeat in their last five games. Meanwhile, Granada have lost four of their last five games in all competitions.
The home side's league form this season has been slightly patchy. They picked up back-to-back wins at the start of the season, but they then lost their next three before comprehensively beating Rayo Vallecano.
They then went another three games without a win before securing six points from their next two games, but in keeping with their season they have gone two games without a win. Surely that points to three points this afternoon then?!
Granada, meanwhile, failed to pick up a singular win in the league until late September. But they made it back-to-back victories with an impressive win over Real Mallorca. They then lost their next five games in all competitions, however, before winning away at Real Betis.
They faced Atletico Madrid in their last league encounter on November 18 and were undone by a singular Arda Turan goal. Although they will have been buoyed by their performance against one of the top sides in La Liga.
If you fancy a flutter this afternoon then some bookmakers are offering Valladolid to win 2-0 at 7/1. That is the score I am backing for this particular match. Granada are not in the best of form, while Valladolid have been strong at home in recent weeks.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff. Just a reminder that we three back-to-back La Liga matches to bring you this evening. Be sure to stay with us.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Mild evening in Spain? Check. Let's get the La Liga action underway.
Granada get the action underway and Dani Benitez immediately looks for the run of Gabriel Torje, but Balenziaga is on hand to clear the danger.
Both sides exchange spells of possession in the early stages of the match, but the away team have made the most of the early running. You can just sense goals in this one.
First real bit of quality from the home side as Oscar picks up possession out wide before dancing past the challenge of two Granada defenders, but his searching cross is cut out by Borja Gomez. Valladolid have taken control of the ball in the past few moments.
The match has just become ever so scrappy in the past few minutes with sides handing possession away in midfield. Meanwhile, the first attempt on goal comes from Victor Perez, but it is well wide of the target.
Half-chance comes the way of Granada as Dani Benitez fires in a low cross from the right, but Balenziaga is on hand to clear the danger. Meanwhile, Mikel Rico heads wide from the resulting corner.
It just isn't quite happening for Valladolid at the moment. This time it's Omar who searches out the run of Manucho, but Tono is on hand to collect the danger. End-to-end stuff.
Slight stoppage in play as Benitez receives treatment on an injured knee. The Granada skipper does not look too happy at the moment. From the looks of it he will not be returning. This match is just waiting for a spark.
Benitez does indeed return to the pitch. Half-chance for Valladolid as Iriney releases Fabian Orellana, but once more the final pass is lacking. Not the best quality on display in the opening 15 minutes.
Half-chance comes the way of the away side this time as Torje strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was always moving wide of the target. Neither side has grabbed hold of this match in midfield thus far.
Another Valladolid attack breaks down as Granada launch a counter of their own, but Orellana can only head wide of the target from close range. Still no real opportunities for either side.
Not the greatest advert for Spanish football at the moment. There is not a great deal of possession football from either side, while chances have been at a premium. The match badly needs a goal.
Spectacular attempt from Manucho as he collects an Iriney pass on his chest before volleying his effort towards goal, but the former Manchester United forward's strike was never troubling Hernandez.
Again Manucho is involved for the away side as he attempts to dance his way into the Valladolid box, but he is crowded out at the vital moment. Meanwhile, Ebert tests Tono down the other end.
The tempo of the match has just been raised in the past few moments. However, Granada remain the side the most likely to open the scoring. It really could go either way as we approach the 30-minute mark.
A couple of fouls and offside decisions have just interrupted the flow of the match in the past couple of minutes. Pape Diakhate picks up a booking for his troubles. I suspect it will not be the last.
Slight bit of panic inside the Valladolid box as Iriney whips a high ball towards Orellana, but Carlos Pena stands strong to clear the danger. Meanwhile, El Arabi has started to influence proceedings for the away side.
CHANCE! Clearest opportunity of the match by a country mile as Oscar finds himself in the Granada box, but Nyom manages to clear the danger as the midfielder lined up his shot. Wonderful defending. That should have been the opener.
Decent spell of possession from the home side at the moment with Omar and Oscar both enjoying more of the ball. But chances remain few and far between with around 10 minutes of the opening half remaining.
Valladolid really need to get Ebert on the ball. The midfielder is their best creative force but has been staved off possession thus far. Meanwhile, the threat from Granada has disappeared in the past five minutes or so.
Half-chance for the home side as Ebert whips a dangerous cross into the Granada box, but Siqueira heads the danger behind for a corner, which is also cleared.
Much better football from Granada as Iriney and El Arabi combine on the edge of the penalty area, but the latter's shot is deflected behind for a corner. There has been a distinct lack of passing in and around the penalty areas thus far.
Little over two minutes of the half remaining and the match remains level. Chances have been few and far between in the opening half with Oscar passing up the best opportunity for the home side. It's Granada currently with possession.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute of football at the end of the half. Valladolid will end the opening period on the attack.
Real Valladolid 0-0 Granada
So there we have it. A largely uneventful half is drawn to a close with Real Valladolid and Granada level at 0-0. In truth, it has not been a classic thus far.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Valladolid dominated the possession with 62%, but they managed just three shots to Granada's five. That said, neither team has managed a singular shot on target.
Just a reminder that three points for the home side could move them as high as fifth. Meanwhile, victory for Granada would move them away from the relegation zone. But it is difficult to see where a goal is coming from.
Just a reminder that we have live coverage of Malaga vs. Valencia and Real Betis vs. Real Madrid to come this evening. Be sure to stay with us as the events unfold.
Right, we are just about three minutes away from the second period of action. I am still backing a home win, but the lack of shooting opportunities for either side points to a draw as we stand.
Here we go then. Sociedad get us underway in the second period. This match is in desperate need of a goal. Let's hope that it comes in the early stages of the half.
End-to-end football at the moment as Torje comes close for Granada before Manucho links with Perez down the other end. However, we are still waiting for the first meaningful effort on target.
Manucho has lifted his tempo for Valladolid in the second period. However, his over eagerness has resulted in a host of fouls and the early tempo has been interrupted once more. The referee has been a busy official thus far.
Both managers are patrolling the touchline in the early stages of this half. Surely raising the tempo would have been on both their agendas at the interval. That said, a point would not be the worst result for either team.
Granada have possession as we move closer to the hour mark in the match, but attack after attack continues to break down. Surely both sides will consider changes in the next 10 or so minutes.
Half-chances comes the way of Granada as Rico fires an effort from outside the box, but it was always moving high of the target. At least it was some sort of attempt. Still no shot on goal from either side.
Slightly better from both sides in the past few minutes as Valladolid respond with a mazy run from Ebert, but once more the midfielder is crowded out in the area. For the lack of attacking intent, the defending has been of a high standard.
It's good work from Benitez as the Granada skipper advances down the right, but his low cross is collected by Hernandez. Meanwhile, Oscar's cross is collected by Tono down the other end.
CHANCE! Clearest opportunity of the second period by some distance as Omar finds Ebert outside the box, but the midfielder can only fire his effort wide of the post. Valladolid should be ahead.
GOAL! Real Valladolid 1-0 Granada (Manucho)
Finally the deadlock is broken as Manucho advances into the box before clipping his effort over Tono. Smart finish from the powerful striker.
The match had just livened in the past few moments and there were signs that the opening goal was on its way. Hopefully we are in for a pulsating remaining 25 minutes of action.
Someone has pressed the fast forward button as Granada attack with numbers, but some dogged defending from the home side clears the danger. However, Granada are intent on levelling the score as they flood forward once more.
Valladolid are playing a dangerous game at the moment as they drop deeper and deeper and attempt to hit Manucho on the break. Little over 20 minutes of football remaining and the home side lead 1-0.
CHANCE! Manucho comes ever so close to scoring his second as he meets an Omar cross, but his header is saved by Tono. Meanwhile, change for Granada as Orellana is replaced by Antonio Floro Flores.
Half-chance for Floro Flores as he collects possession outside the Valladolid box before striking an effort towards the bottom corner, but it just moved wide of the post. End-to-end football at the moment.
The chances continue to come for both sides as Ebert strikes an effort from outside the box, but Tono is once more on hand to deal with the danger. It is an old cliché but goals certainly change games.
Meanwhile, change for the home side as Ebert is replaced by Alberto Bueno. Little under 15 minutes of football remaining in this one and it is ever so open.
CHANCE! Another opportunity for the home side as Bueno advances into the Granada box, but he just cannot make proper contact. Meanwhile, the away side make a change as Nyom is replaced by Darwin Machis.
Benitez attempts to rally his side with another mazy run, but it breaks down at the vital moment. Meanwhile, the home side make another change as Manucho is replaced by Javi Guerra.
Sociedad are just breaking the play up at the moment with a host of free kicks and the frustration has led to Granada picking up a couple of yellow cards. However, you just get the feeling that there is another goal in this game.
Victor Perez takes a couple of minutes out of the match for the home side with an injured neck. Just how injured he is I am not sure. Meanwhile, final change for Granada as Inigo Lopez replaces Diakhate. Little over four minutes of normal time remaining.
Final change for the home side as Oscar is replaced by Lluis Sastre. Time is certainly on their side at the moment. Is there another goal left in this match? It simply has to come now.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes of added time. We have just entered the first of those.
Valladolid have possession of the ball with little over a minute remaining. Granada attempt to launch the ball forward, but it continues to come back with interest.
Real Valladolid 1-0 Granada
So there we have it. A second-half strike from Manucho secures all three points for Real Valladolid. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and stay with us for Malaga vs. Valencia. Until then!
