Match ends, Barcelona 4, Granada CF 0.
Barcelona 4-0 Granada CF
- From the section European Football
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona secured a comfortable victory over Granada to return to the top of La Liga.
The Argentine scored twice in the first 15 minutes and added another after the break to take his season's tally to 18, as Barca made it 20 games unbeaten.
Messi put Barcelona in command with composed close-range finishes to Luis Suarez-inspired moves.
He followed up to add a 58th-minute third, before Neymar lobbed the fourth.
Victory increased Barcelona's advantage over Real Madrid to five points - the side from the Spanish capital host Deportivo La Coruna in Zinedine Zidane's first game in charge later on Saturday.
Barca's hold on top spot could be short-lived as they will surrender their position if Atletico win at Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Messi broke the deadlock in the eighth minute against a side who were beaten 6-0 at the Nou Camp last season.
A clever dummy from Suarez allowed league debutant Arda Turan to thread a fine ball to the Argentine to slot home.
The second came six minutes later, as Neymar eased through before passing to Suarez, who knocked the ball down for Messi to finish.
Granada came into the contest more in the second half, with striker Isaac Success posing a threat, and David Lomban hooking a chance over the bar.
Normal service was soon resumed however, as Messi claimed his third - and 11th goal in eight La Liga appearances against Granada - following up after a dummy by Turan let in Neymar to shoot against the frame of the goal.
Neymar capped another impressive individual display by adding a fourth goal with seven minutes left thanks to a precise lob after good work by Messi and Suarez.
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique: "I made some changes now when I can and I have the chance to share out the burden.
"The key will be to get to the matches in a couple of months feeling fresh.
"I'm very satisfied with how the team played. Everybody was focused from the beginning and the players knew how important it was to win these three points."
Line-ups
Barcelona
- 13Bravo
- 22Vidal ParreuBooked at 63minsSubstituted forAlves da Silvaat 65'minutes
- 3Piqué
- 23Vermaelen
- 18Alba
- 4Rakitic
- 20Roberto Carnicer
- 7TuranSubstituted forCorreiaat 72'minutes
- 10Messi
- 9Suárez
- 11Neymar
Substitutes
- 1ter Stegen
- 5Busquets
- 6Alves da Silva
- 8Iniesta
- 19Ramírez
- 21Correia
- 24Mathieu
Granada
- 13Fernández
- 17Méndez OrtegaBooked at 56mins
- 26Henry Agbo
- 2Rodríguez LombánBooked at 57mins
- 12Doria MacedoBooked at 60mins
- 3Biraghi
- 21KrhinSubstituted forMainzat 45'minutes
- 23Rochina NaixesBooked at 29minsSubstituted forMárquez Morenoat 78'minutes
- 20Pérez del Mármol
- 11Success
- 27PeñarandaSubstituted forIbáñez Castroat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Kelava
- 4Rico Castro
- 5Mainz
- 7Ibáñez Castro
- 8Márquez Moreno
- 9El-Arabi
- 25Almeida Costa Lopes
- Referee:
- Carlos Velasco Carballo
- Attendance:
- 69,091
Match Stats
Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamGranada
- Possession
- Home67%
- Away33%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away19
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 4, Granada CF 0.
Attempt saved. Javi Márquez (Granada CF) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Foul by Adriano (Barcelona).
Robert Ibáñez (Granada CF) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Success (Granada CF).
Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).
Robert Ibáñez (Granada CF) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Adriano (Barcelona).
Rubén Pérez (Granada CF) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Cristiano Biraghi (Granada CF).
Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 4, Granada CF 0. Neymar (Barcelona) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Luis Suárez.
Attempt missed. Neymar (Barcelona) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Adriano.
Offside, Granada CF. Robert Ibáñez tries a through ball, but Javi Márquez is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Granada CF. Javi Márquez replaces Rubén Rochina.
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Edgar Méndez (Granada CF).
Adriano (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Uche (Granada CF).
Substitution
Substitution, Granada CF. Robert Ibáñez replaces Adalberto Peñaranda.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Adriano replaces Arda Turan.
Foul by Arda Turan (Barcelona).
Rubén Rochina (Granada CF) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Rubén Rochina (Granada CF) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cristiano Biraghi.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Dani Alves replaces Aleix Vidal.
Neymar (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Rubén Rochina (Granada CF).
Booking
Aleix Vidal (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Aleix Vidal (Barcelona).
Success (Granada CF) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Lombán.
Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from long range on the right is blocked.
Booking
Doria (Granada CF) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aleix Vidal (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Doria (Granada CF).
Offside, Granada CF. Cristiano Biraghi tries a through ball, but Success is caught offside.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 3, Granada CF 0. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.