Granada welcomed Espanyol to the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes on Sunday with both sides occupying places in the bottom three of La Liga.
Victory for either would have moved them out of the drop zone and it was the home side that dominated the opening period, but it brought few chances in a tight half.
Granada continued to enjoy the better of the second 45 minutes, but neither side could break the deadlock as the points were shared in a 0-0 draw.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Morning all! It is perhaps too early to call this match a relegation six-pointer, but it certainly has that feel. Luckily for both of these sides, they have not been cast adrift at the bottom and three points today would move either out of the bottom three.
We are just waiting for the confirmed team news to filter through. In the meantime let's take a look at how both sides have fared this season. Granada failed to win any of their opening five matches in the league, before recording back-to-back victories against Celta Vigo and Real Mallorca. The standard of their football in those two matches pointed to better times ahead, but it failed to materialise.
They have picked up just one win in their last seven matches in all competitions, although that victory came away to high-flying Real Betis and therefore they have proved that they have the quality to compete at this level. But you just get the feeling that their home form simply has to improve.
Espanyol, meanwhile, went seven matches without a win in all competitions at the beginning of the season. Their first three points came at home to Rayo Vallecano in mid-October, but they have managed just one win in their previous seven.
The away side also have tough matches to come against Sevilla and Real Madrid before travelling to Barcelona just after the winter break. You just get the feeling that they have to pick up some points between now and then or risk being cut adrift.
Teams:
Granada: Tono; Diakhate, Siqueira, Nyom, Gomez; Santos, Benitez, Rico, Torje; Ighalo, El-Arabi
Espanyol: C Alvarez; Colotto, Forlin, V Alvarez; Simao, Verdu, Sanchez, Wubarak, Baena; Lopez, Stuani
As mentioned, a couple of league wins at this stage would propel any side up the table. From bottom to 16th is just four points, while the top half of the table is just nine points from Espanyol. I am not suggesting that is their target, but a couple of league wins would ease their troubles.
Just a reminder that on Sports Mole we have all four La Liga matches covered on this mild day in Spain. Stay with us for the entirety of the action and you will not miss a kick.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff. Time for my pre-match prediction. I can just see these two teams cancelling each other out this afternoon. For that reason I am backing a 1-1 draw.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. The referee is ready. The players are ready. It's a match that neither side can really afford to lose at this stage of the season. Let's get the action underway.
Here we go then. Espanyol get the action underway. The home supporters are making their voices known at the beginning of this match. The pitch also looks in good condition. It has all the makings of an exciting afternoon of football. Let's hope that is the case.
CHANCE! Fantastic opportunity inside the opening two minutes as Dani Benitez finds Gabriel Torje inside the penalty area, but his effort is blocked by Juan Forlin. Meanwhile, Ighalo just cannot make contact with the rebound and the danger is cleared.
The home side have certainly made the better start to this match and their supporters are responding. Nothing much from Espanyol in the opening four minutes aside from a mazy run down the right by Verdu. High-tempo start to the action.
Just as I say nothing much from Espanyol as an attacking threat, they enjoy their best period of the opening stages. It's smart work from Wakaso as he evades the challenge of Allan Nyom before firing a cross into the penalty area, but the danger is cleared and Granada launch an attack of their own.
Not a great deal of quality on display at the moment as both sides launch a series of high balls into the opposing penalty area. But both defences have stood up well to the aerial threat thus far. Meanwhile, a host of fouls have broken up the early tempo.
First real attempt of the match comes to the away side as Verdu meets a high ball just outside the penalty area. But he can only volley his effort over the crossbar. In fairness he is probably the only player on the pitch capable of that. Meanwhile, the home side win a free kick just outside the Espanyol box.
Benitez takes the free kick, but his effort is straight into the wall and the danger is cleared. Real end-to-end football at the moment as Espanyol launch an immediate break, but the danger is cleared before another attack from Granada.
CHANCE! Wonderful opportunity for the home side as Torje picks up possession inside the penalty area, but his effort is pushed wide by Alvarez. Meanwhile, the resulting corner is cleared by the head of Diego Colotto.
Slightly scrappy period of the match in the past few moments with both sides giving away a host of free kicks in midfield. Espanyol remain a threat via Wakaso and Verdu, but the home side certainly look the more likely to open the scoring. But how quickly that can change.
Again it's smart work from Granada as Mikel Rico finds Borja Gomez on the right. The defender whips a high ball into the penalty area towards Ighalo, but Victor Delgado rises highest to clear the danger. The home side have a penalty shout as Allan Nyom is felled in the area, but the referee waves play on.
Granada force another free kick just outside the penalty area. But Torje's effort is deflected wide for a corner. Meanwhile, the resulting set piece is sliced behind his own goal by Colotto. The home side really are turning the screw at the moment.
The pressure remains from Granada as they force another three corners in quick succession. But the away side continue to defend compactly and clear the danger. Espanyol are really struggling to put a series of passes together at the moment.
CHANCE! Granada come within a whisker of taking the lead as Raul Baena rises highest in the penalty area, but his header is over the crossbar. You just get the feeling that the home side need to score during this dominating period.
Granada continue to force the issue but their final pass has eluded them on more than one occasion. Meanwhile, Espanyol simply cannot keep hold of the ball at the moment. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there is one - could shape the remainder of the match.
Half-chance for the away side as Stuani pounces on a loose ball inside the penalty area, but the striker is just crowded out at the vital moment. Granada launch an immediate counter attack, but Iriney's effort is straight at Alvarez.
Again the home side come close to taking the lead as Torje pounces on a loose ball inside the penalty area, but his effort is blocked by Forlin. Stuani calls for a penalty down the other end as he is felled by Tono, but the offside flag had been raised.
It is sometimes the case that the early matches in Spain fail to produce entertainment. That is certainly not the case here. We are yet to see either team open their tally. But it is a real end-to-end game of football. I would be amazed if the score wasn't opened soon.
Half-chance for the home side as Rico meets a bouncing ball inside the penalty area, but he can only strike his effort into the arms of Alvarez. Meanwhile, a couple of fouls in midfield have once more broken up the tempo and flow of the match.
The match has just lost some of its tempo with both sides exchanging possession in midfield. Granada remain the biggest attacking threat, but the away side have passed the ball better in the last five or so minutes.
CHANCE! The best opportunity of the match falls to the home side as Ighalo advances into the box before standing a cross up to the far post, but it is just too high for Benitez. Meanwhile, solid defending from Colotto quells the danger from an attack moments later.
Espanyol advance immediately down the other end and Siqueira swings a leg at a cross from Wakaso, but his effort was always moving wide of the post. Little over seven minutes of the half remaining and the tempo has been raised once more.
Benitez has been in the wars for the home side in the past few moments as he is chopped down on two separate occasions. The second brings a free kick just outside the penalty area, but his effort is high and wide. Espanyol attempt to release Stuani on the counter, but the pass doesn't reach its destination.
For all the home side's possession in advanced areas, they have struggled to find their final pass on more than one occasion. But they have been much the better side in this opening half thus far. Can they force an opener in the remaining three or so minutes in the half?
Espanyol end the half the stronger with a decent spell in the Granada half. Meanwhile, they force two corners in quick succession. The second presents itself to Forlin in the penalty area, but Tono makes a diving save to quell the danger.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute at the end of the half. Bar a late rush both teams will enter the break level.
Granada 0-0 Espanyol
So there we have it. An eventful opening period is brought to an end with the two sides level at 0-0. Clear chances have been at a premium, but Granada have looked the more likely to open the scoring.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Granada have shaded the possession with 55%, while they have had five attempts to Espanyol's four. That said, both teams have registered just one shot on target.
As it stands Espanyol would remain bottom of the table with 10 points. Meanwhile, Granada would move above Deportivo La Coruna into 18th position. But a singular goal in this match would move either side out of the bottom three. It is that close at the bottom.
In truth, the first period has been typical of two sides that have won just one match in their last five. Their has been decent periods of possession, but the quality in the final third has certainly been lacking. Let's hope for more shooting incidents in the second period.
Here we go then. Granada get us underway in the second period. No changes for either side at the interval. While we are at it, just a reminder to join us from 3.30pm for three back-to-back live commentaries in La Liga. You will not want to miss it.
Really scrappy start to the second period with both teams failing to keep hold of possession in midfield. Both sides to have width and it is strange that neither has explored that option thus far. No chances to report in the opening three minutes.
It's really nice feet from Torje on the edge of the penalty area as he dances past the challenge of Simao before being chopped down by the former Benfica midfielder. However, Benitez's effort is poor and straight into the arms of Alvarez. It simply has to be better than that.
CHANCE! Horror defending from Siqueira presents the chance to Wakaso one-on-one with Tono, but the Granada goalkeeper manages to close town the angle before making a crucial challenge. What on earth was the defender doing there. It came so close to costing his team.
Half-chance for the home side this time as Torje meets a bouncing ball in the penalty area, but his volley is wide of the post. Meanwhile, Espanyol appear to be preparing their first change of the match.
The change is indeed made with Simao being replaced by Rui Fonte. It has not been the best of matches for the Portuguese. Right we have around 35 minutes of football remaining and the score sits level at 0-0. The second period has been much more of an even contest thus far.
The home side force a couple of free kicks around the Espanyol penalty area, but the quality from Benitez is poor once more and the danger is cleared. Both managers will be pleased by their sides' defensive display thus far, if nothing else. A clean sheet would certainly be a bonus.
The tempo has just been raised in the past few moments with Granada doing much of the attacking, but still the final pass eludes them. Meanwhile, the away side make their second change of the match as Stuani is replaced by Samuele Longo.
Half-chance for the away side this time as Wakaso and Longo cause havoc in the Espanyol box, but the danger is eventually cleared. Meanwhile, a clash between Wakaso and Siqueira on the edge of the penalty area causes an altercation between both teams.
Meanwhile, the home side make their first change of the match as El Arabi is replaced by Yacine Brahimi. Not that you ever like to see an altercation between two teams, but it does appear to have raised the tempo and suddenly we have a real match on our hands.
Half-chance for the home side this time as Benitez meets a Rico corner, but his header is wide of the target. Real end-to-end period of the match at the moment. But still the score remains level. It would be huge if either side could secure the three points this afternoon.
It's all a bit pantomime at the moment with both sides giving away free kicks and the players guilty of giving their best Oscar performance on the ground. Another free kick is whipped in by Benitez, but once more the danger is headed clear by the Espanyol defence.
Right, we have 20 minutes of football remaining in this match. The scores remain level, but both sides are attempting to force the issue. It would be different to say that either team is on top at the moment as both are threatening. But the pace of the home side is causing huge problems.
Half-chance for the home side as Siqueira tries his luck from distance, but his effort was always moving wide of the post. Benitez has a strike moments later, but his effort is also wide of the target.
Oh my word. One of the strangest situations you will ever see as Tono comes out of his box to challenge Wakaso. But the Espanyol winger grabs hold of the goalkeeper and wrestles him to the ground, picking up a yellow card for his troubles. This is football isn't it?! Or am I watching the wrong sport. This is a proper relegation scrap.
Espanyol make their third and final change as Wakaso is replaced by Raul Rodriguez. Little under 15 minutes of football remaining. The away side have played all their cards. Benitez remains the main threat for the home side, but his shooting continues to miss the target.
Stoppage in play here as Diakhate is carried off on a stretcher and is replaced by Inigo Lopez. The defender had been struggling in the last 10 or so minutes. Another half-chance falls to the home side, but Longo's effort is wide of the target.
CHANCE! Best chance of the second period comes to the home side as Benitez fires a low cross into the penalty area, but Colotto just manages to turn over his own crossbar. Wow. That could have gone anywhere but Espanyol live to fight another day and the scores remain level.
The handbags between the two sides continue as Longo and Iriney clash in the middle of the pitch. It has become slightly petulant in the past few minutes as both sides battle for the ball. Granada have a huge penalty shout as Benitez is felled in the area, but the referee waves play on.
Change for the home side as Iriney is replaced by Romero. Little over five minutes remaining and the score sits level at 0-0. Granada have enjoyed the better of the recent possession, but Espanyol are a threat on the counter through Longo and Fonte.
Half-chance for the home side as Ighalo rises highest in the penalty area, but his header is straight at Alvarez and play is continued with an Espanyol attack. If there is to be a winner in this match then it simply has to come now. What a huge three points it would be.
Slightly scrappy at the moment with both sides battling for possession in midfield. Verdu attempts to release the run of Fonte for the away side, but the danger is cleared before Granada advance immediately down the other end.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional five minutes of added time. Can either side secure what would be a vital three points? It has to come now.
Decent pressure from the home side as they whip a number of high balls into the Espanyol penalty area, but the away side continue to clear the danger. They launch an attack of their own, but it is again cleared. It doesn't appear that a winner is coming.
Not a great deal happening in the final moments of this match. It is almost as if both has accepted a share of the spoils. Granada remain the side forcing the issue, but they have committed less numbers forward as the match has advanced.
Possibly the final chance for the home side as Ighalo is chopped down outside the penalty area. Benitez's effort is a good one, but Alvarez makes a diving save to clear the danger. A corner follows, but Colotto rises highest to head clear.
Granada 0-0 Espanyol
So there we have it. The match is brought to a close with both sides sharing the points in a 0-0 draw. The result means that Espanyol remain bottom of the table, but Granada move up a place into 18th. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and join us again for more La Liga football from 3.30pm. Until then!
