Xavi gem gives Barça the points against Granada (0-1)
Barça neat Granada by a single goal and for 24 hours at least they are back on top of the Spanish League. Xavi got the goal with a fantastic free kick while Pedro was taken off injured and Jaime and Benítez were sent off for Granada.
Barcelona (FCB).- Following the disappointment of Saturday’s draw, FC Barcelona were back to winning ways at Granada this Tuesday evening, as they put in a practical performance at the Los Carmenes Stadium. In the first half, with Isaac Cuenca making his debut out on the left wing, Barça played some fast and attractive football which culminated in Xavi’s superbly taken free kick. With this victory, Barça are on top of the Spanish League again, at least for one day while waiting Levante’s game.
Granada suffered two red cards after the break –one at the start and one at the end of the half and Barça duly ran out winners –though perhaps without their usual verve and sparkle – to take over the top spot in the Spanish League ahead of Wednesday’s games.
Dominant from the off
Just as Seville had done on Saturday, Granada closed up shop from the start and handed over the initiative to Barça, hoping to catch the champions on the break, whilst Barça put together plenty of passing movements in front of the Granada box, looking for spaces in their defensive wall. Messi and Cuenca both had shots wide in the early encounters.
Magnificent Xavi
Despite Barça’s domination, Granada were holding out and reached the half hour mark with their goal intact, but soon after Xavi was fouled on the edge of the box and he got up to put away a brilliant free kick past the helpless Granada keeper. Magnificent!
Jaime sent off
Things got tougher for the hosts when Jaime was shown a second yellow for dangerous play. Barça were also to lose a player at the same time, as Pedro twisted his ankle in a nasty way and was replaced by David Villa. With the extra man, Barça pushed for the second and it looked as if Messi had got it, only to see his effort spectacularly cleared off the line by Mainz.
However, after that chance the pace of the game dropped notably as both teams seemed happy with the 0-1 result and once Granada were reduced to nine men after Benitez was also shown a second yellow, there was never going to be a way back for the hosts and Xavi’s goal proved enough for Barça to come back home with the three points.
The goal
0-1, Xavi (min 33)