Granada's Survival Test: Finding a Win Without Talismanic Sergio Ruiz
Pacheta faces a selection headache as Granada must navigate two crucial fixtures without suspended midfield orchestrator Sergio Ruiz, who has been essential to all their victories.
Granada face an uphill battle in their upcoming fixtures after midfielder Sergio Ruiz received a two-match ban following his dismissal at Butarque for protesting after being substituted. The suspension couldn’t come at a worse time for Pacheta’s side, who remarkably haven’t won a single match without Ruiz in the starting eleven this season.
The Unsung Hero
While the Cantabrian midfielder might not be the most eye-catching player in Segunda División—he’s hardly banging in goals or racking up assists every week—he’s proven to be absolutely crucial to Granada’s functionality. He’s one of those players who brings balance to the entire squad, the sort of cog that makes the whole machine tick properly.
The stats don’t lie: Granada have managed just six victories this campaign, and Ruiz has started every single one of them. Talk about your proper lucky charm!
The Winter Wobble
The evidence of Ruiz’s importance became crystal clear during the winter period when he was struck down with a nasty bout of flu. His absence from the starting lineup (either missing matches entirely or being relegated to the bench) coincided with a dismal six-week winless run for Pacheta’s men.
It was only when he returned to full fitness that Granada finally ended their barren spell with back-to-back wins against Cádiz and Racing—before their momentum was halted again at Butarque.
Pacheta’s Plan B Options
With two absolutely massive fixtures against Valladolid and Ceuta on the horizon, Pacheta needs to find a solution, and sharpish. The gaffer has three main options to consider:
- Maintain the midfield trio by bringing Izan González into the starting eleven
- Shift José Arnáiz into a more central role and deploy Baba on the wing
- Partner Gonzalo Petit with Jorge Pascual up front—though this strategy was tried previously without success
Whichever way Pacheta decides to go, he’ll need to break the Ruiz-dependent pattern if Granada are to keep their season on track. Finding three points without their midfield maestro has been like finding a needle in a haystack so far—proper Danny Dyer, as we say in the East End.