Match ends, Granada CF 1, Barcelona 3.
GranadaGranada1BarcelonaBarcelona3
- Suarez scores one and creates two
- Barca cut gap to Real Madrid to a point
- Real face Villarreal on Sunday
Luis Suarez scored one and created two goals as Barcelona cut the gap to La Liga leaders Real Madrid with victory at Granada.
The Uruguayan's cross-shot allowed Ivan Rakitic to turn into an empty net for the opener and he doubled the lead, poking home after half-time.
Fran Rico's penalty gave Granada hope but Suarez rounded the keeper to create a tap-in for Lionel Messi.
Barca are just a point behind Real, who host Villarreal on Sunday at 20:00 GMT.
A win would restore Los Blancos' four-point cushion and they visit Barcelona on 22 March.
All Luis Enrique's side can do between now and then is win to keep their title-hopes alive and in facing a Granada side with just one victory in 21 matches, such an outcome was expected.
Granada - 19th in La Liga - have managed just 16 league goals in the campaign, 11 fewer than Messi alone.
But the diminutive Argentine was outshone as Suarez, who scored twice in Barca's midweek win at Manchester City, took his tally to 10 goals and 14 assists in 24 games since joining the Catalan club.
His well-timed run and wild volley across goal gifted Rakitic the first and the goalscorer returned the compliment after the break, sending Suarez clear to stab the ball past the on-rushing keeper.
This was not vintage Barcelona but with Luis Enrique resting key players such as Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets ahead of Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Villarreal, his side did enough.
Despite some criticism of Enrique, not least after defeat to Malaga last weekend, his side are still in the hunt for three trophies.
Though Rico's penalty - awarded when Marc Bartra fouled Lass Bangoura - briefly posed questions, Rakitic and Suarez combined decisively.
The former Liverpool striker raced onto the Croatian's reverse pass and rounded Granada keeper Oier Olazabal before unselfishly presenting Messi with a tap-in to settle the contest.
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique: "Ever since he arrived, Suarez has been playing top-class football and working very hard. He may look more spectacular now and people are seeing more of him, but he has always been a special player that does a lot for the team."
Elsewhere in La Liga on Saturday Alberto Bueno scored four goals in 16 minutes as Rayo Vallecano beat Levante, who remain in the bottom three.
Relegation-threatened Almeria and Deportivo La Coruna played out a goalless draw, while Malaga overcame Getafe 3-2.
Line-ups
Granada
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Olazábal Paredes
- 2Nyom
- 6Claude Babin
- 19Torres Ruiz
- 22Foulquier
- 21Ibáñez Castro
- 16Iturra
- 4Rico Castro
- 15BangouraBooked at 86minsSubstituted forCandeiasat 78'minutes
- 18CórdobaSubstituted forSuccessat 78'minutes
- 8Márquez MorenoBooked at 3minsSubstituted forRochina Naixesat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Martins
- 7Candeias
- 12Pérez del Mármol
- 13Fernández Alvalleros
- 23Rochina Naixes
- 24Murillo
- 29Success
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Bravo
- 22Alves da Silva
- 15Bartra
- 24MathieuBooked at 58minsSubstituted forBusquetsat 75'minutes
- 18Alba
- 4Rakitic
- 14Mascherano
- 6HernándezSubstituted forRafinhaat 65'minutes
- 10Messi
- 9SuárezBooked at 15minsSubstituted forPedroat 79'minutes
- 11NeymarBooked at 55mins
Substitutes
- 1ter Stegen
- 2Montoya
- 5Busquets
- 7Pedro
- 8Iniesta
- 12Rafinha
- 21Correia
- Referee:
- Santiago Jaime Latre
- Attendance:
- 18,119
Match Stats
Home TeamGranadaAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home33%
- Away67%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away9
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away9
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Granada CF 1, Barcelona 3.
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Dani Alves (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Cala (Granada CF).
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Rafinha (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Fran Rico (Granada CF).
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Corner, Granada CF. Conceded by Javier Mascherano.
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Hand ball by Robert Ibáñez (Granada CF).
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Attempt saved. Pedro (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a cross.
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Dani Alves (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Rubén Rochina (Granada CF).
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Oier.
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Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Neymar.
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Attempt missed. Marc Bartra (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Ivan Rakitic with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Cala.
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Offside, Barcelona. Sergio Busquets tries a through ball, but Lionel Messi is caught offside.
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Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Manuel Iturra (Granada CF).
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Rafinha (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Babin (Granada CF).
