Granada’s rise to the top of the table highlights La Liga’s Sunday action.
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Granada 1-0 Real Betis
Perhaps the biggest storyline in what is still a young La Liga season is recently-promoted side Granda’s impressive season.
With only two losses and a historic 2-0 win over Barcelona this season, Diego Martínez’s side are separating themselves from the notion that they’re running on luck, and instead are gravitating towards becoming a legitimate force within the league.
On Sunday, for a second time this season, the Andalusian side reached the La Liga summit - albeit El Clasico was postponed due to Catalonia’s political crisis.
The game boosted only a goal - a gentle strike inside the six-yard box from Alvaro Vadillo - but saw a handful of chances be wasted by both sides. Real Betis, who are in the relegation zone as a result of the outcome, controlled the possession of the ball and accumulated a total of 12, although none were on target.
Betis manager, Rubi, who joined the recent Europa League competitors this summer, is expected to be back on the dugout midweek, although his job hangs on a thread.
That said, a lot will be on the line when Betis receives Celta Vigo midweek, while Granada, on the other side of the spectrum, look to keep defying the odds as they travel to Getafe.
Celta Vigo 0-1 Real Sociedad
Over the summer, Real Sociedad bet on two Scandinavian youngsters Alexander Isak and Martin Ödegaard, signing the former to a permanent deal and bringing in the latter on a loan from Real Madrid.
Long story short, they’ve payed dividends thus far for La Reala, who climbed up to third in the table following their 1-0 victory against Celta Vigo.
The youthful duo had everything to do with the visitor’s win in Balaidos.
In the 82nd minute, after taking the field seven minutes earlier, Isak’s unbalanced left-footed strike struck the inner-portion of the net. Ödegaard, as vigilant as ever before, picked out the Swedish attacker and assisted what would be his game-winning goal.
Real Sociedad now aim to continue their positive run going as they host Levante, while struggling Celta hope they can edge Real Betis, who are also experiencing a sour moment themselves.
Elsewhere in La Liga
Levante 0-1 Espanyol
Sevilla 2-0 Getafe
Osasuna 3-1 Valencia
