Granada’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday was not only their first in La Liga since 1976 – a 4-1 win over UD Las Palmas – but also the first goal the Andalusians have managed in the top flight since May of the same year, or 12,914 days to be precise.
Ikechukwu Uche – signed by Villarreal on transfer deadline day for €5m from Real Zaragoza and immediately loaned out to Granada – headed the vital goal in the 55th minute from Guilherme Siqueira’s cross, with questions now being asked about why he was allowed to play against his parent club.
The 27-year-old’s chances at El Madrigal may have been limited this season behind Giuseppe Rossi and Nilmar, but President Fernando Roig could well come under fire from his own supporters this week as to why there was no clause in his contract forbidding him to play against the club that retains his registration.
Granada’s win was the first time the club has earned three points for a win in the top division and Uche’s historic goal also broke a personal record for the Nigerian international, who now becomes the first African in the history of La Liga to have scored for four different clubs. Apart from his strike against Villarreal he has been on the mark for three of his former clubs – Recreativo de Huelva, Getafe and Real Zaragoza.
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