Granada earn long-awaited win

Ikechukwu Uche's second-half header was enough to give promoted Granada their first La Liga win in 35 years over an out of sorts Villarreal. The Nigerian striker, on loan at the Andalusian side from Villarreal, had earlier passed up the best opportunity of the first half but made amends early in the second with a fine header from Dani Benitez's cross. Villarreal had the chance to equalise when the referee awarded a penalty 12 minutes from time but Giuseppe Rossi hit the post and Jonathan de Guzman missed an open goal from the rebound. Granada had looked distinctly average in losing their opening two games of the season, but started brightly. Hassan Yebda fired wide from the edge of the area before Franco Jara set Uche clear on goal but the striker hesitated when one-on-one with Cesar Sanchez and shot over. Benitez was a constant threat down the left side and he skipped past Cristian Zapata to set up Uche with another opportunity on the half-hour, but the former Getafe man failed to make clean contact with his header and Cesar was able to smother. Uche made amends for those missed chances ten minutes into the second half when he met another great run and cross from Benitez with a firm header from 12 yards that flew into the top corner. Villarreal had looked weary following their UEFA Champions League exertions in midweek, but the goal along with the introduction of Nilmar and De Guzman awakened them. De Guzman went close with a controlled volley from the edge of the area before Nilmar was adjudged to have been felled by Guilherme Siqueira. Justice was done for the hosts when Rossi's penalty rebounded back off the post and De Guzman pushed the rebound wide with the whole goal at his mercy.