Morata's goal is the difference as Atletico beats Granada in Spanish league

MADRID (AP) — Álvaro Morata scored his 13th goal of the campaign as Atletico Madrid beat struggling Granada 1-0 in the Spanish league on Monday.

Second-from-last Granada dominated the early part of the match but the hosts could not turn their possession into goals and Atletico came more into the game as it went on.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone put Koke and Rodrigo De Paul on the bench but both players were introduced in the second half, and it was De Paul who started the move that gave Atletico the lead.

He pushed the ball out wide to Antoine Griezmann after 56 minutes and his inviting cross was headed home by an unmarked Morata.

It was Morata's 13th league goal in 19 games this season and took him level with Getafe’s Borja Mayoral in the La Liga scoring charts. Only Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Girona’s Artem Dovbyk have scored more with 14.

Saul Niguez and Griezmann both had goals chalked off for offside but one goal was enough for the visitors, who moved into fourth, level on points with Athletic Bilbao.

Girona tops the table, a point ahead of Real Madrid, which has a game in hand.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer