La Liga: Sevilla 1 Granada 2

Mikel Rico scored a 90th-minute goal to hand Granada a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sevilla in La Liga on Monday.

Manu del Moral had put Sevilla ahead inside the first minute of the match but a spirited fightback from Granada – through a goal from Alex Geijo and Rico’s late strike – ensured they were to clinch their first away win of the league season.

Sevilla took the earliest of leads when Granada failed to deal with Jesus Navas’ cross and Manu put away the rebound from striker Frederic Kanoute’s shot.

Further chances came the home sides’ way before the 10-minute mark with Manu, Jesus Navas and Piotr Trochowski all squandering good opportunities to double Sevilla’s lead.

Granada’s influence grew and they had a good opportunity to level when they were awarded a free kick in a promising position.

Abel tested the palms of Sevilla goalkeeper Javi Varas with the set-piece and from the resulting corner a timely intervention from Uruguay defender Martin Caceres prevented a tap-in for two lurking Granada players.

Sevilla began to realise that their slender lead was under threat and emerged from the half-time break with the intention of finding a second, and they nearly managed that when Emiliano Armenteros was unchallenged five meters from goal but he put his header wide.

Granada goalkeeper Roberto was then in fine reactionary form saving from Manu, Armenteros and Jesus Navas all in quick succession to deny Sevilla a second goal.

Granada’s best chance came and went when a corner kick was scrambled to Uche just three meters from goal, but the Nigerian striker scooped his effort over the bar.

They then found their lifeline when Javi Varas was left-wrong footed after on-loan Argentine forward Franco Jara’s shot hammered off the crossbar and onto the head of Geijo, who gratefully nodded home to level the match with little over ten minutes remaining.

Granada then stunned the home faithful with a superb strike in the 90th minute from Mikel Rico at the edge of the area.

Sevilla were left ruing their numerous missed chances, with Marcelino Toral’s side falling further behind Valencia in the race for a Champions League spot as a result.

Granada lifted themselves off the bottom of the table courtesy of victory against their Andalusian rivals.