Stalemate in Encamp: Andorra and Granada Play to Scoreless Draw as Both Sides Struggle for Consistency

The autumn chill settled over Estadi de la FAF on Friday evening, and so too did a frustrating malaise for two Segunda División sides desperately seeking momentum. FC Andorra and Granada CF battled to a scoreless draw, a result that did precious little to improve the fortunes of either club as they navigate turbulent campaigns in Spain's second tier.

For the hosts, sitting comfortably in seventh place with 14 points from nine matches, the stalemate represented a missed opportunity to capitalize on home advantage against a struggling opponent. Granada, languishing in 20th place with just nine points and flirting dangerously with the relegation zone, likely viewed the point as a small moral victory—their third consecutive match without defeat after a dismal start to the season.

The match began with promise, as Andorra's Aingeru Olabarrieta drew an early caution in the 14th minute, a warning that set the tone for what would become a physical, grinding contest. But neither side could find the cutting edge required to break the deadlock, despite Andorra's recent reputation as a side capable of finding the net. Entering Friday's match, Ibai Gomez's squad had averaged 1.4 goals per game over their last ten outings, with attacking threats like Daniel Villahermosa and Kim Min-Su providing consistent production.

Yet against Granada's organized defensive shape, those creative channels dried up. The visitors, fresh off a goalless draw against Las Palmas and riding the confidence of a 5-2 demolition of Real Sociedad II just two weeks prior, appeared content to frustrate their hosts and protect a clean sheet that had become increasingly rare this season. Granada had conceded 15 goals in their first nine league matches, a defensive fragility that has undermined their efforts to climb away from danger.

The scoreless affair stood in stark contrast to the sides' previous encounter, when Granada secured a commanding 2-0 victory at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes earlier this year. That result had provided a template for how to neutralize Andorra's possession-based approach, and Granada's coaching staff clearly took notes. By sitting deeper and denying space in behind, they neutered the hosts' most dangerous attacking movements.

For Andorra, the draw halted what had been a concerning slide. They entered Friday having dropped their previous two matches, including a humbling 3-0 defeat at Real Sociedad II last weekend that raised questions about their defensive solidity. With 13 goals conceded in nine matches, Gomez's side has proven capable of scoring but equally vulnerable to conceding, making their inability to break through all the more concerning given the opponent's league position.

Granada manager will take solace in the resilience his squad displayed, even if the attacking output remained anemic. With just 11 goals scored through nine matches—barely over one per game—finding consistent scoring remains the Andalusian club's most pressing challenge. The absence of a reliable goalscorer has plagued their campaign, with Souleymane Faye, Álex Sola, and Pedro Alemañ Serna each managing just two goals in recent weeks.

The tactical chess match never truly ignited into the kind of end-to-end spectacle that might have suited Andorra's attacking personnel. Instead, the evening devolved into a war of attrition, with both sides seemingly settling for a point as the second half wore on. The crowd at Estadi de la FAF, accustomed to seeing their side push for victories at home—they had won six of their last ten home matches entering Friday—voiced their frustration as the final whistle approached.

The result leaves Andorra in seventh place, still within touching distance of the playoff positions but now without a victory in three matches. Their form has become maddeningly inconsistent, alternating between impressive victories over sides like Córdoba and deflating defeats that call their promotion credentials into question.

For Granada, the point represents incremental progress but hardly resolves their existential crisis. Sitting in 20th place, just five points clear of the automatic relegation zone with the season still in its early stages, they cannot afford many more performances like Friday's—admirable in resilience but toothless in ambition. As both sides look ahead, the harsh mathematics of the Segunda División table make one thing clear: draws may feel safe in the moment, but they rarely deliver salvation over the long haul.