Working Hard to Beat Granada, Real Madrid to the Top of the Standings

Brahim Diaz led Real Madrid to beat Granada and take the top spot in the Spanish La Liga standings. (Twitter @ realmadrid)

JAKARTA - Real Madrid managed to take the top position in the standings after beating bottom team Granada 2-0 in the Spanish La Liga match, Sunday, December 3 early morning of Western Indonesian Time (WIB). Madrid's success at the top is determined by their superior goal difference with Girona.

The competition in La Liga is quite interesting this season. Madrid is no longer at odds with Barcelona or city rivals, Atletico Madrid.

Girona is actually, a serious competitor for Madrid in the hunt for the league title. Entering week 15, Madrid was finally able to overthrow Girona.

Previously, Girona occupied the top position after beating Valencia 2-1. However, Madrid then took the throne after beating Granada.

Both Madrid and Girona have 38 points. However, Los Blancos is superior on goal difference and is at the top.

Meanwhile, Atletico and Barca are ranked third and fourth. Both teams both have 31 points so Madrid and Girona have left behind.

Granada itself is in the relegation zone and is threatened with returning to the lower division next season. They have only won once and have seven points.

In that match, Madrid showed its strength over Granada. Even though they lost a number of regular players, including Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior, their ball possession still reached 71 percent.

This makes Madrid dominate the game and actively attack the opponent's defense. On the other hand, Granada did not shoot a single kick on goal.

Madrid opened the scoring through Brahim Diaz in the 26th minute. The goal was created through a one-two collaboration between Diaz and Toni Kroos.

It started with the German veteran midfielder's clever pass to Diaz who managed to escape the offside trap before beating goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.

After winning 1-0, Madrid began to have difficulty facing Granada's strong defense. No goals were scored so the one-goal lead lasted until the end of the first half.

Entering the second half, Carlo Ancelotti's team remained superior in possession of the ball. They also managed to increase their lead through Rodrygo in the 57th minute.

The goal came from Diaz who managed to control the ball and send a cross towards Jude Bellingham. Bellingham's shot at goal was still saved by Fernandez.

However, Rodrygo was in a good position when the ball was rebounded. This Brazilian national team player immediately grabbed the ball in front of him which put Los Merengues ahead 2-0.

This was Rodrygo's fifth goal in a row in various competitions. The score remained until the end and Madrid won the match.

"This was a perfect match. We dominated and created lots of opportunities. On the other hand, they didn't even shoot at goal. We were completely focused on this match," said Diaz responding to the final result of the match.

Diaz also praised his partner, Kroos, who gave him the pass which led to Madrid's first goal.

"Appreciation to him who gave the pass without needing to look. How he looked for his partner and then gave the pass. This is truly extraordinary," he said.