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Barcelona vs Real Sociedad
Barcelona vs Real Sociedad
Spanish La Liga
Date: Saturday, 15th April 2017
Kick-off at 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona.
Real Sociedad finally won the game in the previous round when they beat Sporting Gijon 3-1, but taking into account they have never won a point at Camp Nou, surprising Barcelona on Saturday could be a mission impossible.
Barcelona
The Catalonians are certainly in a slump after failing to score in the two consecutive matches. In the match against Malaga, Neymar picked up a red card and a two-game suspension, which rules him out for the upcoming El Classico.
However, their form at Camp Nou is very solid – they won the last eight matches, winning at both half-time and full-time in 7 out of last 8 matches.
Real Sociedad
The guests got back onto winning track but it probably won’t last long since they have one of the most difficult visits upcoming.
With three points from the last round, Sociedad are back into the 6th position. In order to reach UEFA Europa League as the season is coming to a close, Real Sociedad must preserve minuscule point lead over Eibar and Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona vs Real Sociedad: Head-to-head
The Catalonians hold the perfect record against Real Sociedad – the guests are without a win at Camp Nou for more than 20 years. This season, they met three times already. Barcelona won both Copa del Rey matches, but Sociedad snatched a point in the league fixture back in November as both teams settled for a 1-1 draw.
Barcelona vs Real Sociedad: Prediction
Barcelona must go for three points in this match in order to preserve hopes of lifting the La Liga trophy this season. However, Real Sociedad certainly won’t make it any easier since even a point at Camp Nou would certainly be a solid result.
Inter 2 AC Milan 2: Romagnoli and Zapata snatch stunning derby draw
A key week in AC Milan history ended in remarkable fashion as they came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Inter at San Siro.
First-half goals from Antonio Candreva and Mauro Icardi had looked set to give Stefano Pioli's men a much-needed win in their Europa League chase but Alessio Romagnoli and Cristian Zapata salvaged a draw with goals in the 83rd and 97th minutes.
Pressure has been mounting on Pioli, while the mood in the Milan camp has been one of positivity following six victories in their last nine and the long-awaited completion of the €740million takeover by Chinese investors this week.
Milan started brightly at a packed San Siro, with tifos and smoke grenades covering the stands, but Candreva followed up his goal in the 2-2 derby draw in November with a well-taken opener in the 36th minute.
Icardi doubled the lead before half-time with his first goal against Milan and the Nerazzurri had looked in firm control until a remarkable finale.
Romagnoli stabbed in from Suso's cross to give his side a lifeline before Zapata turned the ball off the crossbar and over the line following a corner in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Vincenzo Montella's side stay in sixth place with the draw, two points above Inter, who are now without a win in four matches.Milan were gifted a chance with barely 90 seconds on the clock, with Gerard Deulofeu seeing a shot blocked and Carlos Bacca skewing the ball over the crossbar after Roberto Gagliardini had lost possession in his own half.
Deulofeu struck the base of the post with a low strike from the right of the area but Inter threatened straight away on the counter-attack in a breathless opening 20 minutes.
The match descended into a more scrappy phase but Samir Handanovic had to be alert to halt another darting run down the left from Deulofeu, who had looked the brightest player on the pitch.
But it was Inter who drew first blood with their first goal before half-time in a derby match since Walter Samuel in 2012. Gagliardini's simple long ball from halfway allowed Candreva to run in behind Mattia De Sciglio and loop a clever finish over Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the bottom-left corner.
Two minutes before half-time, Inter seized control of the match. Ivan Perisic combined well with Joao Mario down the left and drilled a low cross into the path of Icardi, who fired into the gaping goal from six yards.Montella's side pushed for a lifeline after the break but Perisic should have made it 3-0, the Croatia winger shooting straight at Donnarumma after being picked out by Icardi following a swift counter-attack.
Handanovic tipped a bouncing Deulofeu strike past his left-hand post but survived a nervy moment when he lost his grip on the ball under pressure from Bacca, who was unable to fashion a chance to shoot.
Milan kept up the pressure and Romagnoli gave them hope of a comeback in the 83rd minute, prodding Suso's cross from the right beyond Handanovic from the edge of the six-yard box.
And Zapata sent the Rossoneri faithful into raptures in the last seconds of the match, steering the ball off the bar and clearly over the line following Manuel Locatelli's corner, with the referee blowing for full-time just as the Milan celebrations began.
Key Opta stats:
- Inter have won none of their last four Serie A games (D2 L2) – the Nerazzurri have conceded two goals in each of these matches.
- AC Milan are unbeaten in their last four league matches (W2 D2): the Rossoneri have scored in 10 consecutive Serie A games for the first time since October 2013.
- AC Milan have recouped points having been two goals behind for the third time this season: prior to Saturday, they won against Sassuolo and shared the points with Torino.
- Icardi (21) is only one goal from his record in a Serie A campaign: 22 in 2014-15.
- Antonio Candreva is the first Inter player to score in two league derbies in the same season since after Diego Milito in 2011-12.
- Suso has delivered nine assists in Serie A this season: six more than any other team-mate.
- AC Milan are unbeaten in their last four league matches (W2 D2): the Rossoneri have scored in 10 consecutive Serie A games for the first time since October 2013.
- AC Milan have recouped points having been two goals behind for the third time this season: prior to Saturday, they won against Sassuolo and shared the points with Torino.
- Icardi (21) is only one goal from his record in a Serie A campaign: 22 in 2014-15.
- Antonio Candreva is the first Inter player to score in two league derbies in the same season since after Diego Milito in 2011-12.
- Suso has delivered nine assists in Serie A this season: six more than any other team-mate.
Bayern Munich 1 Real Madrid 2: Ronaldo double gives Zidane's men the edge
Cristiano Ronaldo overturned Arturo Vidal's header as Real Madrid won 2-1 at Bayern Munich, who had Javi Martinez sent off.
A second-half double from Cristiano Ronaldo secured a 2-1 win for Real Madrid against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena and a firm advantage in their Champions League quarter-final tie.
The Portugal captain struck two minutes after the break to cancel out Arturo Vidal's bullet header before poking home a second to give the holders a strong result to take back to the Santiago Bernabeu for the return fixture.
Bayern had been good value for their lead but Vidal's missed penalty allowed Madrid to get back into the match, before a red card for Javi Martinez left the Bundesliga leaders facing a battle to ensure they stayed in the tie.
The first half belonged to the home side and Vidal in particular, the midfielder scoring with one emphatic header, missing a clear chance for a second and blazing a controversial spot-kick over the crossbar.
Madrid responded through Ronaldo's first goal in the tournament since September 27 and Martinez's two quick-fire yellow cards gave them a foothold they never looked likely to relinquish, before Ronaldo's second 13 minutes from time sealed the win - his 100th goal in European competition.
The tie is far from over for Carlo Ancelotti's side but the advantage rests with Zinedine Zidane, the man who won the competition as assistant to Ancelotti in 2014 before his triumph at the Madrid helm last year.Madrid came closest to breaking the deadlock in a balanced opening 20 minutes, Karim Benzema seeing a downward header clawed onto the underside of the crossbar and out by Manuel Neuer, back in the side after missing the last three matches with injury.
Bayern, though without the injured Robert Lewandowski, turned up the attacking pressure and a succession of corners eventually paid dividends. Vidal raced through the crowded box to meet Thiago Alcantara's delivery and the Chile international powered a header high into the net, despite Keylor Navas getting hands to the ball.
The home side sought to cement their control and Vidal spurned a great chance to make it 2-0, heading high and wide from 12 yards out after Arjen Robben got free of Toni Kroos by charging for the byline rather than cutting inside from the left.
Vidal was then given the chance to cap a superb first half from the penalty spot but he blazed his effort over the crossbar, although Madrid will certainly feel that justice had been done after the assistant behind the goal had incorrectly ruled that Dani Carvajal had blocked a Franck Ribery effort with his arm.
Zidane had to jog to reach the dugout in time for the second half after delivering a lengthy team talk, and he did not have to wait long to watch his side restore parity. Luka Modric found Carvajal in space down the right, and his cross was expertly swept into the bottom-left corner by Ronaldo, who was allowed to meet the ball unchallenged near the penalty spot.
Bayern appeared not to learn their lesson and Neuer was forced into a superb one-handed save to keep out a header from Gareth Bale, who was allowed to latch onto Modric's driven cross from much the same position that Ronaldo had scored.
With the away goal secured, Madrid looked content to hit Bayern on the counter-attack, and the tactical tweak brought them a further advantage as Martinez picked up two yellow cards in the space of three minutes for fouling Ronaldo as he looked to break into the hosts' half.
Neuer was again required to keep the scores level, sticking out a leg to deny Benzema's prodded effort after Carvajal had fed the striker, before a strong right arm stopped a firm Ronaldo strike from 12 yards.
But Ronaldo got the better of Germany's number one for the second time in the 77th minute, racing to meet Marco Asensio's curling cross from the left and prodding the ball through Neuer's legs and into the net.
Madrid thought they had snatched a potentially vital third goal when Sergio Ramos steered in a header in the 90th minute, but the assistant referee spared Bayern after correctly spotting that the visiting captain was offside.
Juventus 3-0 Barcelona: Dybala double secures Champions League first-leg thrashing - 5 things we learned
Paulo Dybala's brilliant brace helped Juventus thrash Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, with Giorgio Chiellini adding a third.
The Argentine forward hit two early goals to rock the Catalans and bring memories of their 4-0 defeat by PSG in the last 16 flooding back.
Juventus started as they meant to go on and Gonzalo Higuain saw a header kept out by Marc-Andre ter Stegen before Dybala opened the scoring in the seventh minute.
Juan Cuadrado crossed to him from the right and he spun masterfully in the box before bending the ball home.
The forward was at it again in the 22nd minute, curling home from the edge of the box to stun the visitors.
At the other end Lionel Messi had a goal ruled out correctly due to Luis Suarez being offside in the build up and Iniesta forced a stunning save from Gianluigi Buffon when played in by Messi.
At the other end Lionel Messi had a goal ruled out correctly due to Luis Suarez being offside in the build up and Iniesta forced a stunning save from Gianluigi Buffon when played in by Messi.
Juventus extended their lead to three goals in the 55th minute when Chiellini outjumped Javier Mascherano to power home a header.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
1. Dybala announces himself on world stage
Within Italy there has been a lot of buzz about Paulo Dybala, who has been making waves with Juventus.
Anyone who has bothered to check in on the Serie A star will have seen a world class player in the making. This was the night he stepped up to show he’s now, undoubtedly, at that level.
His two strikes in the first 22 minutes took him to four goals in seven Champions League matches.
The first saw him turn on a sixpence and whip the ball beyond Ter Stegen, taking the German by surprise.
2. Busquets' importance highlighted
Although this has not been Sergio Busquets’ best season, his huge important to the Barcelona team was highlighted here.
The defensive midfielder was suspended for the game and Javier Mascherano filled in for him as the pivote.
However, even though it’s the Argentine’s natural position, he can’t play it in the style of Busquets, with Barcelona lacking control in the game—Mascherano can’t build play like the man he replaced does so masterfully.
Barcelona found it hard to build and missed Busquets’ positioning, particularly when it came to closing Juventus down.
Although this has not been Sergio Busquets’ best season, his huge important to the Barcelona team was highlighted here.
3. Holes in 3-4-3 exposed
4. Echoes of Pep continue
5. The Old Lady will not be for turning
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid: Match Preview and Predictions
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid
UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal First Leg
Date: Wednesday, 12th April 2017
Kick-off at 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
Venue: Allianz Arena (Munich).
The two European powerhouses Bayern Munich and Real Madrid renew their rivalry are they lock horns for the first leg of the Champions League 2017 quarter finals on Wednesday, 12th of April 2017.
In their last meeting on 2013/14 semi-finals, Carlo Ancelotti was the Madrid manager. Bayern lost 4-0 at Allianz Arena on that occasion, receiving their heaviest European defeat on home soil. Real went on to clinch the title by defeating city rivals Atletico Madrid in extra time.
These two had met for a total of 22 times in European competitions, 20 of those coming in 10 double legged knockout ties. And the teams knocked out each other out of 5 occasions each.
Bayern’s last defeat in a Champions League fixture came by the hands of Real’s city rivals Atletico Madrid in the group phase of the current campaign. For the Los Blancos, it was against a Bundesliga side in Germany, at Wolfsburg in the quarter finals last season.
Bayern Munich: Form Guide and Key Stats
The Bavarians are coming on the back of an intimidating home form. They scored 29 goals in the last six at the Allianz Arena, the most recent a 4-1 win against Borussia Dortmund. On a broader picture, they are unbeaten at home in all competitions this season with 18 wins and 3 draws from 21 matches.
The 5-1 win against Arsenal on 16th February is Bayern’s 16th straight home win in the Champions League. Once again, their last home defeat was against none other than Real in the second leg of 2012/13 Champions League semi-final.
Real Madrid: Form Guide and Key Stats
Real Madrid are coming on the back of a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid, which stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 9 matches.
In Champions League Madrid can boast of a 12-match unbeaten run. However, they have won only two of their 5 away games during the period.
The Los Blancos defeated Napoli in the round of 16 with a 6-2 aggregate score, winning both legs by the same 3-1 margin.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid: Head-to-head
Overall 22 Matches: Bayern 11 wins, Real Madrid 9 wins, Draw – 2.
Bayern’s home record versus Real in 11 matches – 9wins, 1 draw, 1 loss.
Bayern’s record against Spanish Teams in European Competitions (53 matches): 25 wins, 12 draws, 16 losses. At home, 18 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses from 25 matches.
Real Madrid versus German Bundesliga sides in Europe (64 matches): 29 wins 12 draws, 23 losses. In away trips to Germany, 4 wins, 7 draws, 19 losses from 30 matches.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid: Prediction
The clashes between these two teams are always closely contested and often decided by the slimmest of margins in the second leg. Bayern must be considered as heavy favourites to win this mainly because of their home record. But they do have a big hole in defense in the absence of Manuel Neuer. Therefore, Madrid will get a goal or two here and Bayern are likely to earn a slender lead to take to the second leg in Spain.
AC Milan 4 Palermo 0: First-half blitz helps Rossoneri leapfrog Inter
Gerard Deulofeu scored the pick of the goals as AC Milan romped to a 4-0 win over 10-man Palermo and moved up to sixth in the Serie A table.
AC Milan scored three first-half goals on their way to a 4-0 home victory over 10-man Palermo that moves them above Inter in the table just one week before the derby.
The Rossoneri sent a message to the sides above them in Serie A with a fluent attacking display and some clinical finishing, albeit against a Palermo side teetering on the brink of relegation.
Suso was at the heart of much of Milan's best work and he opened the scoring before turning provider for Mario Pasalic to add a second, and Carlos Bacca headed home to make it 3-0.
The pick of the goals came from Gerard Deulofeu and if both he and Suso can maintain fitness and this kind of form, Milan will have every chance of furthering their European qualification hopes by beating Inter on Saturday.
Second-bottom Palermo have now lost six of their last seven and while they have seven more games to try and avoid the drop, they will need to tighten up a defence that looked porous from the start at San Siro.
Keen to make amends following their disappointing 1-1 draw at Pescara, Milan wasted little time and Deulofeu's searing pace took him through on goal after five minutes but he was brought down by Edoardo Goldaniga.
Suso, back in the Milan side after missing their previous two games with a thigh injury, took the ensuing free-kick and ignored his team-mates awaiting a cross, instead curling the ball into the net at the near post with remarkable precision.
When the Spaniard found himself with time and space in the same position at the edge of the box 13 minutes later he opted to cross, deftly floating the ball to the far post where Pasalic bundled it into the net from close range.
Ivaylo Chochev had a header saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma in a rare Palermo attack, but Milan were in no mood to sit back, and Bacca stooped to head home his 13th league goal of the campaign from Davide Calabria's cross after 37 minutes.
Bacca should have scored his second when Juraj Kucka's exquisite pass down the right flank put him clean through after 54 minutes, but the Colombian fired wide with only Andrea Fulignati to beat.
Palermo pushed forward, playing with an urgency befitting of their desperate plight and substitute Roland Sallai flashed a shot wide after 66 minutes. But their attempts to salvage a goal left them exposed and vulnerable to conceding a fourth, which duly arrived after 70 minutes.
Deulofeu, whose incisive runs had made him a handful for Palermo all afternoon, embarked on a mazy dribble down the left flank and he still had Sinisa Andjelkovic and Chochev to beat when he bent a shot that beat them both as well as Fulignati.
Giancarlo Gonzalez was sent off for a second bookable offence after 83 minutes and a suspended defender is the last thing coach Diego Lopez needs as he attempts to keep Palermo up in the final weeks of the season.
Malaga vs Barcelona match report
Barcelona missed the chance to move level on points with Real Madrid in LaLiga as they were shocked 2-0 by Malaga, with Neymar dismissed.
Neymar was sent off as Barcelona's title hopes suffered a shock setback with a 2-0 defeat against Malaga in Saturday's LaLiga encounter at La Rosaleda.
Luis Enrique's men would have moved level on points with Real Madrid with a win following the capital side's earlier draw against Atletico Madrid, but the Catalans endured a miserable evening as they returned home empty handed instead.
Sandro Ramirez dealt his former club's hopes of going top of the league a blow before the break when he made the most of some poor defending from Jeremy Mathieu. And things went from bad to worse after the interval with a second booking for Neymar following a reckless foul on Diego Llorente near the corner flag.
Jony then added a second in stoppage time at the end of counter-attack as Barcelona chased a way back into the game that never materialised.
Barcelona had every reason to be confident heading into the encounter, having gone unbeaten at the Rosaleda in the league since 2003, but the scoreless draw from the reverse fixture was an indication that Malaga would not be pushovers.
Michel's men drew extra confidence from their 1-0 win over Sporting Gijon in midweek, thus ending a six-game winless streak, and they frustrated Barcelona for a second time in 2016-17 following a strong display, Sandro and Jony the heroes for the hosts.
The result means Barcelona remain three points off the pace, while leaders Madrid still have a game in hand.
Barcelona were in charge right from the off and Luis Suarez came close to handing the Catalans the lead in the 16th minute. The Uruguay international did well to bring down Jordi Alba's long ball after beating the offside trap, only to then aim a shot straight at goalkeeper Carlos Kameni from inside the area.
Malaga slowly grew into the game from there on and Recio could have handed his side a surprise lead halfway through the first half after a poor pass from Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but the midfielder aimed wide from 30 yards out as the Barcelona goalkeeper was fortunate not to be punished for his sloppy play.
And the hosts did go a goal up when Sandro found the net following a rapid counterattack in the 32nd minute, beating Ter Stegen with a low shot at the near post after some unconvincing defending from Mathieu.
Barcelona continued to dominate possession after the break, but they nearly went two goals down in the 57th minute after Sandro did well to set up Juanpi in a dangerous position, the Venezuelan midfielder aiming a shot straight at Ter Stegen.
A superb individual moment from Neymar then almost resulted in the equaliser on the hour mark, but the winger saw his shot from a narrow angle hit the upright before bouncing wide for a goalkick.
The Brazilian's frustrations got the better of him in the 65th minute and referee Jesus Gil Manzano saw no other option but to show the attacker his second yellow card of the evening after a reckless challenge on Llorente.Malaga thought they had doubled their lead when Adalberto Penaranda had the ball in the net after a quick break, but the goal was questionably chalked off for offside.
The linesman's decision would have no influence on the final result, however, as Malaga got their second goal after all in the dying minutes. Pablo Fornals coolly laid the ball off for Jony after yet another counter-attack and the substitute had no trouble firing home to seal the win.
Match Report Leganés 2 – Real Madrid 4: Asensio and Morata Lead the First Derby
Real Madrid got the three points from Leganés (2-4) and they continue at the top of the table. Marco Asensio and Álvaro Morata highlighted in the first derby of the week to beat the South Madrid club. On Saturday Zidane’s men will have to face Atlético Madrid before travelling to Munich. These two will be tougher games.
Zinedine Zidane picked up an unusual line-up. With Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Toni Kroos out of the list, there was space in the pitch for Marco Asensio, James Rodríguez, Lucas Vázquez or Kovacic. Again, the French manager decided to shake the squad and give minutes to other players due to the busy schedule ahead of this month of April.
Leganés started the game pressuring and Los Blancos were really uncomfortable. However, Zidane’s team has much more quality and this was shown very soon. Asensio got the ball in the 15th minute, he ran the whole pitch, dribbling some Leganés players, and gave the perfect assist to James Rodríguez, who only had to tap in.
Real Madrid had already advantage in the score and soon they could open the gap from a corner kick. This time it wasn’t Sergio Ramos, but Álvaro Morata scored with a header. Only five minutes later, Morata scored again after a great assist from Kovacic. The Spaniard has scored 10 goals this season in La Liga.
No one could expect that Leganés could comeback after this hammering result. However, Keylor Navas couldn’t keep a clean sheet in another game and Gabriel scored their first goal in the 30th minute. And only five minutes later, Luciano found the net after a corner kick, so the game wasn’t over. Real Madrid tried to react after these two goals and Lucas Vázquez was about to score but Herrerín saved it.
At the beginning of the second half, Herrerín couldn’t save his team again. James assisted from a free kick and Mantovani scored an own goal with his hand. With the tranquility of the score, Real Madrid lost the control of the game and Leganés could have the ball, but they didn’t arrive to Keylor’s goal. Real Madrid needed another midfielder and Zidane introduced Isco and James Rodríguez came out very angry.
Isco and Mariano have some minutes at the end of the game but the match was over. Los Blancos continue at the top of the table, two points clear from FC Barcelona. On Saturday they will have another derby, but this one should be tougher.
Real Madrid got the three points from Leganés (2-4) and they continue at the top of the table. Marco Asensio and Álvaro Morata highlighted in the first derby of the week to beat the South Madrid club. On Saturday Zidane’s men will have to face Atlético Madrid before travelling to Munich. These two will be tougher games.
Zinedine Zidane picked up an unusual line-up. With Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Toni Kroos out of the list, there was space in the pitch for Marco Asensio, James Rodríguez, Lucas Vázquez or Kovacic. Again, the French manager decided to shake the squad and give minutes to other players due to the busy schedule ahead of this month of April.
Leganés started the game pressuring and Los Blancos were really uncomfortable. However, Zidane’s team has much more quality and this was shown very soon. Asensio got the ball in the 15th minute, he ran the whole pitch, dribbling some Leganés players, and gave the perfect assist to James Rodríguez, who only had to tap in.
Real Madrid had already advantage in the score and soon they could open the gap from a corner kick. This time it wasn’t Sergio Ramos, but Álvaro Morata scored with a header. Only five minutes later, Morata scored again after a great assist from Kovacic. The Spaniard has scored 10 goals this season in La Liga.
No one could expect that Leganés could comeback after this hammering result. However, Keylor Navas couldn’t keep a clean sheet in another game and Gabriel scored their first goal in the 30th minute. And only five minutes later, Luciano found the net after a corner kick, so the game wasn’t over. Real Madrid tried to react after these two goals and Lucas Vázquez was about to score but Herrerín saved it.
At the beginning of the second half, Herrerín couldn’t save his team again. James assisted from a free kick and Mantovani scored an own goal with his hand. With the tranquility of the score, Real Madrid lost the control of the game and Leganés could have the ball, but they didn’t arrive to Keylor’s goal. Real Madrid needed another midfielder and Zidane introduced Isco and James Rodríguez came out very angry.
Isco and Mariano have some minutes at the end of the game but the match was over. Los Blancos continue at the top of the table, two points clear from FC Barcelona. On Saturday they will have another derby, but this one should be tougher.
Granada vs. Barcelona, 2017 La Liga: Final Score 1-4, Dominant Barça win on the road
Barcelona are back to the winning ways in La Liga after the international break, and they won away from home with a dominant 4-1 victory against Granada. The Catalans were in control for the entire match, and apart from one defensive lapse, Barça cruised to a very comfortable three points that keeps them in the race for the league trophy.
FIRST HALF
The Blaugrana started the game poorly, struggling to use possession effectively and easily wasting passes. But an injury to Rafinha Alcântara was a blessing in disguise for Barça, because André Gomes moved from right wing to midfield and the Portuguese started to affect the game as a great partner to Neymar and Jordi Alba on the left.
Barça found a space to work and create chance after chance that Guillermo Ochoa kept saving, but he couldn't stop Luis Suárez when the Uruguayan scored a spectacular chip over the Mexican keeper just before the final whistle of the first period.
At halftime, a strong Barça performance gave them a lead they could and should increase in the final period.
SECOND HALF
Granada made a substitution with Jérémie Boga coming in at halftime, and the Frenchman made an instant impact, running in behind the Barça defense and slotting the ball away from Ter Stegen to score the equalizer. The Blaugrana were not affected by the goal and continued to dominate the game and create chances, and when Luis Suárez found Paco Alcácer with a wonderful through ball, Barça were in front again.
The visitors kept looking for a third goal that would confirm the win, and after Uche Agbo was sent off for a second yellow card, Ivan Rakitic scored the third goal for Barça and the game was definitely over. Neymar still added another goal, his 100th for the club, and turned the win into a rout. Big three points.
Granada: Ochoa; Foulquier, Saunier, Lombán, Silva, Héctor; Uche, Agnban (Boga), Wakaso; Kravets (Ramos), Pereira
Goal: Boga (50')
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Mascherano, Mathieu, Alba; Rakitic (Aleñá), Busquets, Rafinha (Alcácer); Gomes (Iniesta), Suárez, Neymar
Goals: Suárez (44'), Alcácer (63'), Rakitic (83'), Neymar (91')
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