All square in Granada
Atletico draw 0-0 but pick up the first point of the season away from home
Atletico and Granada drew 0-0 in the Estadio Nuevos Los Cármenes a game in which Atletico deserved the full three points. The side returns to Madrid disappointed after throwing everything they had at the home side.
The game was 0-0 at the break thanks to some great goalkeeping by Robert and Courtois. Barely three minutes from the opening whistle when Uche got his head on a cross from the left to the far post. The woodwork came to the rescue for Atletico an opening the brought the fans to life. The second attack was similar but from the other side, Mainz rose above the Atletico defense to head goal bond with power. They were the best minutes for the home side who tried to break up the flow of the game starting in the middle of a packed Nuevos Los Cármenes. At times the game looked like a tennis match. There was no control and Atletico could boss the game. Next it was Atletico’s turn. Hitting the home side on the counter, the best chances for the red and whites came after good work in the middle from Diego and Gabi. In both cases the danger was canceled out by Roberto. Despite the improvements, Granada would still have a more clear chance in the first 45 minutes. Uche clipped the ball from the edge, it fell between Tiago and Miranda and had the home fans asking for a penalty but the referee did not give anything. Manzano’s men came out strong in the second half, playing some nice midfield combinations that ended with Granada on the back foot. The Atletico manager introduced fresh legs in the shape of Adrian, Assuncao and Pizzi but they couldn’t find the breakthrough. The last minutes of the meeting were all Atletico. Adrian lnking up with Reyes, Diego and Pizzi to generate half a dozen clear scoring chances. But it wasn’t to be Atletico’s night in Nuevos Los Cármenes, the first point away from home in the league. Lineups: Granada: Roberto, Nyom, Fran Rico, Mainz (c), Siqueira, Íñigo López, Dani Benitez, Martins, Uche, Geijo y Abel Gómez. Atlético de Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Domínguez, Filipe Luis, Gabi, Tiago, Mario, Reyes, Diego y Falcao.
Referee: Turienzo Álvarez, Javier
Substitutions: Granada: Mollo for Dani Benítez (68'), Mikel Rico for Abel (68') & Franco Jara for Uche (75'). Atlético de Madrid: Adrián for Mario Suárez (49'), Assuncao for Tiago (56') & Pizzi for Falcao (75').
Yellow Cards: Granada: Fran Rico (24'), Martins (41'), Nyom (67') & Roberto (75'), Atlético de Madrid: Gabi (27'), Tiago (49'), Juanfran (52'), Miranda (75') & Assunçao (78')
The game was 0-0 at the break thanks to some great goalkeeping by Robert and Courtois. Barely three minutes from the opening whistle when Uche got his head on a cross from the left to the far post. The woodwork came to the rescue for Atletico an opening the brought the fans to life. The second attack was similar but from the other side, Mainz rose above the Atletico defense to head goal bond with power. They were the best minutes for the home side who tried to break up the flow of the game starting in the middle of a packed Nuevos Los Cármenes. At times the game looked like a tennis match. There was no control and Atletico could boss the game. Next it was Atletico’s turn. Hitting the home side on the counter, the best chances for the red and whites came after good work in the middle from Diego and Gabi. In both cases the danger was canceled out by Roberto. Despite the improvements, Granada would still have a more clear chance in the first 45 minutes. Uche clipped the ball from the edge, it fell between Tiago and Miranda and had the home fans asking for a penalty but the referee did not give anything. Manzano’s men came out strong in the second half, playing some nice midfield combinations that ended with Granada on the back foot. The Atletico manager introduced fresh legs in the shape of Adrian, Assuncao and Pizzi but they couldn’t find the breakthrough. The last minutes of the meeting were all Atletico. Adrian lnking up with Reyes, Diego and Pizzi to generate half a dozen clear scoring chances. But it wasn’t to be Atletico’s night in Nuevos Los Cármenes, the first point away from home in the league. Lineups: Granada: Roberto, Nyom, Fran Rico, Mainz (c), Siqueira, Íñigo López, Dani Benitez, Martins, Uche, Geijo y Abel Gómez. Atlético de Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Domínguez, Filipe Luis, Gabi, Tiago, Mario, Reyes, Diego y Falcao.
Referee: Turienzo Álvarez, Javier
Substitutions: Granada: Mollo for Dani Benítez (68'), Mikel Rico for Abel (68') & Franco Jara for Uche (75'). Atlético de Madrid: Adrián for Mario Suárez (49'), Assuncao for Tiago (56') & Pizzi for Falcao (75').
Yellow Cards: Granada: Fran Rico (24'), Martins (41'), Nyom (67') & Roberto (75'), Atlético de Madrid: Gabi (27'), Tiago (49'), Juanfran (52'), Miranda (75') & Assunçao (78')
