Barcelona weren't at their best on Saturday, but thanks to some wonderful moments and a little luck, they were able to take care of Granada 3-1. Luis Suárez and Ivan Rakitić each had a goal and an assist, as Barca avoided a second straight league loss, and kept pressure on the league leaders Real Madrid.
Granada vs. Barcelona 2015 results: The Blaugrana take care of business in a 3-1 win
Luis Suárez and Ivan Rakitić helped fuel Barca to a needed league victory.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
The opening quarter-hour wasn’t the best for Barcelona as they struggled to get comfortable with the pitch, and failed to really get into a rhythm. Things started to look better around the 20th minute as the Blaugrana finally managed to create a few dangerous moments that tested Granada.
Finally, in the 25th minute Barcelona caught a break and took advantage to grab a 1-0 lead. Jordi Alba lifted a lovely floating ball over the Granada back line, allowing Luis Suárez to break past the offside trap and take control on the left side of the penalty area. Suárez sent the ball across the face of the goal, where Juan Cala's attempted clearance left it sitting in open space for Ivan Rakitić, who hammered the ball into the empty net.
After scoring the opening goal in the first half, Rakitić helped set up Barca’s second goal early in the second half. The midfielder’s pass was perfectly placed, with a ton of spin that allowed it to bounce and hold up right in front of a charging Suárez. The striker held off a defender with one arm and deftly touched the ball past Oier, rolling it into the net to make it 2-0.
Granada answered right back though in the 52nd minute when Marc Bartra brought down Alhassane Bangoura, earning the home side a penalty. Fran Rico blasted the penalty past Claudio Bravo, pulling the Nazaríes back within a goal at 2-1.
Barca pushed their lead back out to two goals in the 70th minute when Rakitić again found Suárez breaking past the Granada back line, setting off a 3-1 into the home side’s area. Suárez dribbled past Oier and then passed to Messi for an easy tap-in to make it 3-1.
Granada: Oier, Nyom, Babin, Juan Cala, Foulquier, Fran Rico, Iturra, Márquez (Rochina 67’), Bangoura ,(Candeias 79’) Córdoba (Isaac 78’), Ibañez
Goal: Bangoura (52’)
Barcelona: Bravo, Alba, Mathíeu (Busquets 75’), Bartra, Alves, Xavi (Rafinha 65’), Mascherano, Rakitić, Neymar, Suárez (Pedro 79’), Messi
Goals: Rakitić (25’), Suárez (48’), Messi (70’)
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