Granada CF vs Juventud Torremolinos

Granada's half-time overhaul — typical of pre-season but costly here — left the team disjointed at the start of the second period. The defensive mistake that gifted Dioni the opener in the 55th minute was a direct consequence of that disrupted rhythm, and it took Granada 15 minutes to reorganise and find their response through Zinebi.

• Rayan Zinebi (Granada CF) — The 20-year-old midfielder, already a regular in Granada's first-team training sessions last season, scored a composed equaliser and had a second chance saved. His movement between the lines caused problems after the interval.

• Dioni (Juventud Torremolinos) — The experienced striker scored his first goal for the club, showing composure in a one-on-one situation. His hold-up play and movement were a constant threat throughout.

• Gerard Gumbau (Granada CF) — Introduced at half-time with the captain's armband, he dictated the tempo of Granada's second-half recovery and provided the forward passing that Zinebi and Arnaiz fed on.

Player of the Match: Rayan Zinebi (Granada CF) — His equaliser and all-round attacking contribution in the second half earned him the nod.

The match statistics reflect a typical early pre-season encounter: both sides created limited clear chances, with Granada dominating possession and territory in the first half but failing to convert. Torremolinos, with one more friendly in their legs, looked sharper in transition and punished Granada's post-interval sloppiness. The 1-1 scoreline — and the fact that both goals came from individual moments rather than sustained pressure — underscores the early stage of both teams' preparations.

For Granada, this was the first run-out of a summer that will be defined by off-field developments as much as on-pitch ones. The club's new ownership group — led by Ignacio Beristain and accompanied by Pedro Ribeiro, Andrew Decker and Jared Zirkes — attended the match, with Beristain expected to become president following Michael Schwimer's takeover. Goalkeeper Raúl Lizoain remains the club's only summer signing so far.

Pacheta acknowledged the mixed performance:

"El Torremolinos es un equipo que juega muy bien, con un modelo muy claro de juego, de intentar elaborar, de llegarte por fuera, de llegarte por dentro. Sabíamos lo que nos vamos a encontrar. Así ha sido. Creo que el primer tiempo ha estado bastante igualado. Han tenido una ocasión de gol, nosotros hemos tenido varias y luego el segundo tiempo ya aunque han marcado, creo que han tenido muy pocas aproximaciones y que nosotros hemos tenido bastantes ocasiones de gol como para ver."

"Si hablamos de las ocasiones, si hablamos de las sensaciones, pues creo que el equipo hemos estado desajustados en muchos momentos, pero me gusta que hemos querido correr, hemos querido hacer lo que entrenamos y esa es la clave. Ahora ajustarlo, pero estoy satisfecho."

— Pacheta, speaking to 101TV Granada after the match

Torremolinos, preparing for a second season in Primera Federación under a clear tactical identity, will take heart from a competitive display against a side from the division above.

• Granada CF: vs Real Oviedo (A) — LaLiga HyperMotion season opener, date TBC (mid-August 2026)
• Juventud Torremolinos: vs Ceuta — next pre-season friendly (TBC)

A pre-season stalemate that told Pacheta more about his squad's depth and fitness than any tactical blueprint. Granada's disjointed second-half start was a reminder that integration takes time, but Zinebi's bright cameo and the intensity of the opening 45 minutes offered modest encouragement. Torremolinos, further along in their preparations, looked the more cohesive side and will feel they could have taken the win.