Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Dani
Alves, Alex Song, Mascherano, Adriano (Tello 72'); Fàbregas, Busquets,
Thiago (Xavi 53'); Alexis, Messi, David Villa (Pedro 52'). 4-3-3.
Granada: Toño; Nyom, Iñigo López, Borja
Gómez, Siqueira; Iriney, Mikel Rico; Torje (Juanma Ortíz 65'),
Brahimi (Jaime Romero 73'), Orellana; Floro Flores (El-Arabi 57'). 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 87. Xavi. Took Alexis pass and volleyed shot in
off crossbar from edge of area.
2-0. 92. Borja Gómez (own goal).
Turned Messi cross in to own net trying to clear.
Yellow cards: Floro Flores 23', Borja Gómez 71'.
Barcelona were within three minutes of dropping their first points of the season on Saturday evening, although a late strike by Xavi and a Borja Gómez own goal gave them a flattering 2-0 win over Granada in the end. After four wins in a row Tito Vilanova's side came in to the game full of confidence. But the visitors more than held their own early on, with Valdés having to make a couple of saves from Floro Flores, and Mikel Rico firing a shot over the bar. Messi and Fàbregas had shots blocked at the other end, but Valdés was in action again to keep out Siqueira, and Barça's nerves were evidenced when Messi and Villa were caught on camera arguing over a play. After the restart the locals moved up a gear, although an excellent Toño kept out shots from Messi, Pedro, Fàbregas and Xavi amongst others. With a few minutes to go Orellana got free on goal only to be thwarted by Valdés once again, and soon afterwards Xavi finally broke through with a shot from outside of the area which went in off the crossbar. Pedro fired a shot over the top and Messi hit the post as the Catalans looked to kill off the game, and in the second minute of injury time Borja Gómez could only turn Messi's cross in to his own net. The defeat leaves Granada down in the relegation spots, but on this showing they should be further up the table before too long.