Granada have given their survival hopes a major boost courtesy of a 2-0 victory over relegation rivals Sporting Gijon in their La Liga clash at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes this evening.
A Youssef El Arabi penalty 15 minutes from time put the hosts ahead before Isaac Success added a late second against their 10-man opponents as Granada climbed above Gijon and out of the relegation zone into 16th place.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between in a tight opening 45 minutes between two sides who were separated by just one point at kickoff.
Indeed, the only meaningful save either keeper had to make in the first half came just four minutes before the interval when Ruben Rochina's powerful strike from the edge of the box was kept out by Ivan Cuellar.
Gijon began the second half brighter, however, and came within inches of breaking the deadlock just five minutes after the restart when Omar Mascarell's 25-yard effort came back off the post.
It was Mascarell who ended up costing his side a point, though, as he conceded a penalty with a little under 20 minutes remaining that El Arabi stroked home to give his side the lead.
That left Gijon on course for a sixth consecutive match without a win, and their hopes of launching a late comeback to end that run took another blow with just over five minutes remaining when Sergio Alvarez was given his marching orders following a second yellow card.
Indeed, it was Granada who were to get the second goal of the game late on as Success tapped home from close range to seal back-to-back wins for Jose Gonzalez's side for the first time this season.
Barney Corkhill
