Andorra – Granada: consolidate the lead (preview and possible alignments)
FC Andorra, after three consecutive games in ‘exile’, will play its first game of this new season in the SmartBank League at the remodeled Andorra la Vella National Stadium against Granada, which intends to extend its impeccable start to the campaign with a fourth consecutive victory.
Eder Sarabia’s men couldn’t have had a better rival and received a visit from Granada tomorrow (2pm), the undefeated leader of the second division with three wins out of a possible three and seven goals for and none against. For its part, FC Andorra arrives with two consecutive defeats as it achieved its first and only victory on the first day at the Carlos Tartiere.
Those of the Principality will have the news of two of the last four signings made in this summer market that ended on Thursday. That is to say, Mika Mármol and Christos Albanis. The first of them is a left-handed central defender who can also play as a winger and comes from Barça Atlético. The second is a striker and also a left winger who arrives on loan from AEK Athens after playing last season at Apollon Limassol. The two signings made late on Thursday Sinan Bakis (Heracles Almelo) and Mustapha Bundu (Anderlecht) have not yet been incorporated into the dynamics of the team led by Eder Sarabia.
The locals have no casualties after terminating the contracts of goalkeeper ‘Josele’ Martínez (Getafe B), Martí Riverola (Atlético Club Escaldes) and Roger Riera. The defeats at the Molinón by 4 to 1 and by 2 to 0 against Las Palmas caused FC Andorra to be forced to react and, above all, win again. It will not be easy for them as they receive a team led by Aitor Karanka who has quickly taken the measure of the SmartBank League after relegation.
His goalkeeper, the Portuguese André Ferreira has not yet conceded a goal. In fact, it is the unfinished business of Eder Sarabia’s men this season: the lack of a goal. In three games played he has only scored two goals. One by Pau Casadesús at the Carlos Tartiere and another by Adrià Altimira at the Molinón.
The National Stadium, remodeled for the occasion, will present the best of its entrances in the debut of those from the Principality in professional football. The installation will debut its new hybrid grass -80% natural and 20% synthetic- and also an extra grandstand that will have more than 3,000 spectators. The towers for television reproduction and the press boxes have also been installed. Everything for the debut in the second highest competition of Spanish football.
Granada visits Andorra with the intention of prolonging its immaculate start to the championship with a fourth win in a row that further strengthens its leadership of LaLiga SmartBank, while the Andorran team is looking for its first home win after winning the premiere in Oviedo (0 -1) and then connect two defeats.
The team led by Aitor Karanka arrives in Andorra after the victories achieved in the Ibiza fiefdom (0-2) and in Nuevo Los Cármenes against Racing de Santander (2-0) and Villarreal B (3-0).
Keeping a clean sheet on the new Andorran turf is fundamental for Granada, until now very firm at the back and resolute and effective in attack, to be able to prolong their great moment of form.
The rojiblancos have completed their squad this week with the addition of attacker Alberto Perea, who has arrived on a free transfer after leaving Cádiz and will have to wait to make his debut.
Perea is available, but he joined the team’s training on Friday, so it is not expected that he will have minutes on a day for which Karanka, except for a last-minute surprise, has his entire squad at his disposal, except for defenders Carlos Neva and Raúl Torrente, long-term injured.
The coach’s doubts, as in previous days, are limited to the players who will occupy both the team’s midfield and the attacking point, since the defensive block and the main wide players have been the same in the first three days .
The French Yann Bodiger and Sergio Ruiz are the favorites to act in the double pivot, while up to three players compete for a position to accompany José Callejón: Óscar Melendo, Alberto Soro or the Uruguayan Matías Arezo.
likely lineups
Andorra: Nico Ratti, ‘Petxa’, Mika Mármol, Adrià Vilanova, Diego Pampín; Jandro Orellana, Marc Aguado; German Valera, Ruben Bover, Marc Fernandez; Carlos Martinez.
Grenade: Andre; Ricard, Rubio, Ignasi Miquel, Quini; Bodiger, Sergio Ruiz; Antonio Doors, Alley, Uzuni; and Matias Arezo.
Referee: Raúl Martín González Francés (Las Palmas committee).
Stadium: National of Andorra la Vella.
Hour: 14.00.