Granada the unstoppable force
Well, nobody expected this!
As soon as Granada earned promotion from the Segunda Division last season after finishing as runners-up, no one in Spain’s top flight even battered an eye-lid.
After all, it was hardly the first time Granada would be contesting a season in La Liga and considering the last time the Nazaríes finished inside the top flights top ten was in 1974, Granada were viewed by many as the whipping boys of the division once again.
However, it seems manager Diego Martínez has been feeding his unfancied chargers a double dose of Weetabix as the find selves tucked nicely behind Real Madrid in second in Spain’s top flight after seven games.
Victories over Espanyol, Celta Vigo, Leganes and of course that stunning win over Barcelona (yes, Barcelona).
High profile draws against Villarreal and Real Valladolid have topped up the points tally with just one defeat to Sevilla the only blemish on a remarkable record in their opening seven games.
Can they keep the run going?
One of the most impressive things about Granada’s performances so far is that the goals have come from all over the park.
Antonio Puertas is the clubs top scorer so far this season but he has only managed three of the sides thirteen league goals – proof enough that Diego Martínez’s side has gelled immediately as a team.
The problem here is that sides will start giving Granada the respect they deserve rather than just expecting to turn up and walk away with the three points.
Granada’s surprise attack is over you can bet that their next opponents Real Madrid will not take them as lightly at the Bernabeu as they would if they were doing what was expected of them and struggling.
However, seven games in and fourteen points is a return even the most ambitious Granada fan will not have expected and already has them nine points above the drop zone.
Avoiding relegation is the key still for Martínez but as Girona were the final team to go down with 37 points last season, it may be safe to assume that with 31 games still to go Granada may only need a further 24 points to ensure safety at a strike rate of 0.77 points per game.
Safety should be on the cards, but Granada may want a little more.
Only time will tell but we will be keeping a sharp eye on them.