Overdue home win for Granada

Granada secured only their second home win of the season as they beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0.

Granada secured only their second home win of the season as a Jordi Amat own goal and a late strike on his full debut from Recio handed them a much-needed victory over an under-strength Rayo Vallecano. The visitors came into the game on the back of four consecutive wins that had propelled them into the European places, but without the injured Leo Baptistao and suspended Alejandro Dominguez they lacked the same cutting edge and were made to pay for some defensive errors. Amat unintentionally gave the hosts the lead on 24 minutes when he turned Allan Nyom's cross into his own goal and, after Lass Bangoura had passed up a great chance to bring Rayo level after the break, Recio sealed the win for the home side with a low drive from the edge of the area. Victory moved Granada out of the bottom three as Rayo remained in sixth. Granada last tasted victory on home soil in the league back in September, but they signalled their intent early on as Odion Ighalo had a goal ruled out for offside just three minutes in and then just failed to get on the end of a Gabriel Torje cross. It was Rayo, though, who had the first clear chance of the afternoon as Franco Vasquez as pulled a shot just wide after good build-up play by Piti and Lass on 14 minutes. Ten minutes later and the hosts were in front as Nyom did well not to give up on a long ball forward before outmuscling Jose Casado and firing the ball into the area, where the helpless Amat could only divert it into his own net under pressure from Ighalo. Rayo responded well to going behind and could have been level before the break as Piti fired just over and Roberto made a smart stop to turn over Vasquez's header from close range. The Granada keeper made an even better stop to keep out Tito's powerful headed effort just after half-time, but Rayo's best chance of the afternoon arrived 25 minutes from time when a Casado cross from the left was deflected perfectly into the path of Lass only for the winger to screw his shot off target. Fabian Orellana should then have wrapped up the points for the hosts but he was denied by Ruben when one-on-one with the keeper and then had his follow-up effort blocked by Jordi Figueras. However, the Chilean did not pay for his profligacy as Recio gave Granada the two-goal cushion they craved moments later with a fine arrowed drive from Carlos Aranda's cut-back.