Granada taste success in their La Liga opener

Granada beat Athletic Bilbao 20 at home on Saturday on the opening day of the LaLiga season, beginning the new campaign as they ended the last.

Elsewhere, Cadiz’s return to the top flight after 14 years was spoiled by a 2-0 defeat at home to Osasuna, while Eibar drew 00 at home to Celta Vigo, with all matches still without fans. .

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid were among six sides who missed the opening weekend due to finishing last season late.

Venezuelan midfielder Yangel Herrera put Granada ahead early in the second half with a glancing header before Luis Milla doubled their advantage with a thumping effort.

Athletic’s star man Inaki Williams was surprisingly left out of the starting line-up by coach Gaizka Garitano but the forward came closest to scoring for the visitors when he did come off the bench, striking the bar with a shot with his knee.

Granada had thrashed Athletic 4-0 at home in their final game of last season to finish seventh in the standings and qualify for European competition for the first time.

The match was supposed to be the opening game on Friday but less than 48 hours before kick-off it was switched after the Spanish soccer federation ruled matches could not be played on Fridays or Mondays.

Eibar’s game with Celta started the season instead. Celta looked the more likely side to score but were thwarted by goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic

Former Atletico Madrid and Spain forward Adrian Lopez fired Osasuna into the lead in the 10th minute at Cadiz while Ruben Garcia sealed the victory in the 79th. —