This weekend has been largely starved of football in Europe’s best leagues because of the international break but Spain’s Segunda División hasn’t taken the break. On Sunday, Granada host Numancia in one of five second-tier games. Both sides have struggled in their quest for promotion as Granada sit 6^th while Numancia are 9^th.

STATS

• After finishing bottom of the Spanish top-flight last season, Granada haven’t been showing signs of getting back up there. With 10 losses from their 31 games, they are failing to push into the promotion places and are currently eight points away from the automatic promotion places. They were beaten 2-1 in their last match by Real Oviedo, who subsequently overtook them in the table.
• Numancia have struggled to inspire a promotion fight this term and look as though they will be playing in the same division next season. However, they are just a point from the play-off places and the final place is taken up by their opponent. They didn’t slip up in their last game, beating mid-table Tenerife 2-0 at home.
• Darwin Machis is Granada’s leading goalscorer this season and while he may have wanted more, he has 11 at this stage of the campaign.
• 34-year-old Manu holds that position for Sunday’s visitors but doesn’t have as many with just seven league goals.

HEAD TO HEAD

With Granada spending their first season in the second division for seven years, the previous meetings between these two sides have been few and far between. In the three meetings, Numancia have lost two and won once. The most recent fixture in October ended 3-1 to Granada which was made much easier in the 46^th minute as Numancia’s Markel Exteberría was sent off. There have been 11 goals in the last three matches.

GRANADA NEWS

It’s important that the hosts take advantage of their game-in-hand by overtaking Oviedo into 5^th place. They could close their gap on league leaders, Rayo Vallecano to just five points with a win.

Latest matches: Granada CF

18.03.2018	LaLi	Real Oviedo	Granada CF	2:1	L
10.03.2018	LaLi	Granada CF	Gimnastic de Tarragona	0:1	L
03.03.2018	LaLi	CD Lugo	Granada CF	2:1	L
25.02.2018	LaLi	Granada CF	Alcorcon AD	2:0	W
18.02.2018	LaLi	Cordoba CF	Granada CF	1:2	W

NUMANCIA NEWS

Like their opponents, some of the teams above Numancia in the table have played an extra game. Three points would take them into the top six but it won’t be too easy against a side that has enjoyed better form this term.

Latest matches: Numancia CD

18.03.2018	LaLi	Numancia CD	Tenerife CD	2:0	W
11.03.2018	LaLi	Barcelona B FC	Numancia CD	2:2	D
03.03.2018	LaLi	Numancia CD	Real Zaragoza	1:2	L
25.02.2018	LaLi	Albacete Balompie	Numancia CD	1:0	L
18.02.2018	LaLi	Numancia CD	Cadiz CF	1:0	W

SUMMARY

With both teams very nearby in the table, it has all the makings to be a very close game. Granada hold the slight edge with home advantage but a draw will probably be the most likely outcome. As with the past meetings, there should be goals in this one.