Granada 2-0 Barcelona: Pressure mounts on Ernesto Valverde after dismal defeat
Newly-promoted Granada moved to the top of La Liga with a sensational 2-0 home win over Barcelona, who slipped to their second league defeat of the season.
With Lionel Messi and Ansu Fati on the bench, Barcelona fell behind inside a minute as Ramon Azeez headed the opening goal.
Messi and Fati were summoned at half-time but Granada maintained their performance levels after the break and with 25 minutes remaining won a penalty when Arturo Vidal conceded a needless handball. Alvaro Vadillo stroked home the spot-kick and Barcelona, who only had their first shot on target in the final 10 minutes, had no response.
The Catalans, who have failed to win any of their last seven away games in all competitions, are seventh in the La Liga standings with seven points after five matches, while Granada sit on the summit with 10 points.
Second-placed Sevilla also have 10 points and can go clear at the top when they face Real Madrid on Sunday, while Atletico Madrid are third on 10 points after drawing 0-0 with Celta Vigo.
The hosts went ahead in the second minute through Azeez.
Roberto Soldado robbed Junior Firpo, fed Antonio Puertas and his cross was headed in by the striker from close range, leaving Barca trailing for the fourth time in five league matches.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made a fine save to push Puertas’ shot wide as Granada attempted to double their advantage.
Yangel Herrera, on loan from Manchester City, fired over before Barca had their first attempt on goal on the stroke of half-time, with Luis Suarez having a shot blocked.
Valverde shook things up at half-time, bringing on Messi and Fati for Junior and Carles Perez.
But Granada refused to be overawed and almost went 2-0 up following a howler from Ter Stegen.
The goalkeeper, under no pressure at all, dropped a catch before recovering to smother the ball before it went over the goal-line.
Granada did double their advantage in the 66th minute, though, Vadillo converting from the penalty spot following a handball from Vidal, who had just come on as a substitute.
Messi tried in vain to haul Barcelona back into the game, sending in numerous crosses that came to nothing and having a shot saved by Rui Silva.
Atletico Madrid were held to a goalless draw by Celta Vigo at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Goalkeeper Ruben Blanco was in inspired form for the visitors, producing several fine saves.
Blanco kept out Felipe’s header in the first half and then acrobatically tipped over Renan Lodi’s thunderous strike from distance.
Blanco also denied Koke while Lodi fizzed an effort across the face of the goal late on as Atletico, now third in the table, were frustrated.
Villarreal left it late to beat Real Valladolid 2-0 and move up to fourth.
The home side finally made the breakthrough in the 77th minute through Santi Cazorla.
The former Arsenal midfielder converted from the penalty spot after Javier Ontiveros was brought down by Mohammed Salisu in the area.
And after Ruben Pena hit the post with a stunning 25-yard volley, Ontiveros netted a second a minute from time.
The midfielder headed in his maiden goal for the club from Samuel Chukwueze’s cross to secure Villarreal’s first home win of the campaign.
Eibar are second bottom after a goalless draw with Levante.
Soccer Accumulator Bonus
Our fantastic Euro Soccer accumulator offer gives you the chance to earn a bonus of up to 100% on accumulators on the top domestic leagues in Europe along with the group and knockout stages of the Champions League.
This offer applies to returns on pre-match accumulators of 3 or more selections on Full Time Result or Result/Both Teams To Score markets for the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera Liga, German Bundesliga 1 or UEFA Champions League.
The maximum bonus that you can receive is ˆ100,000 or currency equivalent. The bonus will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, the bonus will be calculated based .on the remaining active stake. If a qualifying bet is edited .using our Edit Bet feature. The bonus will be calculated based on the new stake. Where a bet has been edited to include or amend a selection for an event that is In-Play, the bonus will no longer apply. Double Chance bets or combination bets with bonuses. Such as Lucky 15’s or Lucky .31’s do not apply for this offer.
If your bet is successful, we will add the following bonuses to your returns:
Bet Type Bonus
14-folds and upwards 100% bonus
Terms and Conditions
Applies to straight pre-match accumulator bets on the Full Time Result or Result/Both Teams To Score markets for UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera Liga, German Bundesliga .1 or Australian A-League matches. Maximum bonus ˆ100,000 or currency equivalent. Soccer Accumulator Bonus does not apply to Double Chance bets or combination. bets with bonuses such as Lucky 15’s, Lucky 31’s etc.
If any selections are postponed/void then the bonus will still apply, but the percentage bonus added will reflect the actual number of winning selections. For example, an 8-fold accumulator with 7. winners and 1 postponed match will receive a 30% .bonus to returns.
The bonus part of your returns will be added to your account within 24 hours of your final selection having played.
This bonus will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, the bonus will be calculated based on the remaining active stake.
If a qualifying bet is edited using our Edit Bet feature, the bonus will be calculated based on the new stake. Where a bet has been edited to include or amend a selection for an event that is In-Play, the bonus will no longer apply.
Where any term of the offer or promotion is breached or there is any evidence of a series of bets placed by a customer or group of customers, which due to a deposit bonus, enhanced payments, free bets, risk free bets or any other promotional offer results in guaranteed customer profits irrespective of the outcome, whether individually or as part of a group, bet365 reserves the right to reclaim the bonus element of such offers and in their absolute discretion either settle bets at the correct odds, void the free and risk free. bets or void any bet funded by the deposit bonus.
In addition bet365 .reserve the right to levy an administration charge on the customer up to the value of the deposit bonus, free bet, risk free bet or additional payment to cover administrative costs. We further reserve the right to ask any customer to provide sufficient documentation for us to be satisfied in our absolute discretion as to the customer’s identity prior to us crediting any bonus, free bet, risk free bet or offer to their account.
All bet365 offers are intended for recreational players and bet365 may in its sole discretion limit the eligibility of customers to participate in all or part of any promotion.
.
