Granada CF 0 - 0 Atletico de Madrid: Granada stay up thanks to draw

Posted Sunday, May 24, 2015 by PA

Granada ensured Primera Division survival on the last day of the season with a goalless draw against Atletico Madrid who sealed automatic qualification for the Champions League.

Eibar's win against Cordoba and Deportivo's draw against Barcelona meant that all three teams down the bottom finished on 35 points but Eibar were relegated due to an inferior head-to-head record in matches between the three teams.

Atletico needed just a point to seal third place and they did that in a low-key encounter of few chances.

Granada had the better of the early stages but it was a cagey affair with neither goalkeeper tested and Antoine Griezmann's slice wide from distance the only chance of note in the opening 20 minutes.

Atleti grew in confidence as the half wore on despite not creating a great deal going forward and there was a blow for the home side in the 38th minute as Piti went off injured to be replaced by Fran Rico.

Ruben Rochina curled a free-kick wide for Granada as half-time approached but neither side had looked capable of breaking the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes.

The second half began much like the first but Koke did eventually test Roberto in the Granada goal with a volley which was easily saved.

Granada continued to have the better of possession but were finding it almost impossible to break down the Atletico defence with Diego Godin putting in an imperious performance in the air.

Results elsewhere meant that Granada's position was still precarious going into the final 10 minutes but the Andalucians did not change their gameplan and claimed a point from a dull affair which just got the job done for both sides.