Rafinha strike breaks Granada’s resistance as Barcelona go second in the Primera Liga

BARCELONA // The expected goal feast that never happened. Barcelona are the Primera Liga's top goalscorers with an average of three goals per match while winless and bottom of the table Granada have the worst record in the league, with 2.5 conceded per match.

The champions were expected to blow Granada out of sight at Camp Nou on Saturday evening, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar starting up front.

On the pitch before the game Suarez displayed his European Golden Shoe for his 40 league goals last term. The Uruguayan is the first player to win the award aside from Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo since compatriot Diego Forlan in 2009. The former Liverpool striker would later be substituted after missing several chances in a rare game without a goal for a much-changed Barca side. Suarez had the best chance of the first period after Javier Mascherano sent him through with only the goalkeeper to beat.

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With Tuesday’s Uefa Champions League match against Manchester City in mind and Andres Iniesta and Arda Turan both absent through injury, midfielder Sergio Busquets was rested, with Ivan Rakitic, Denis Suarez and Rafinha an unlikely midfield three. Manager Luis Enrique has other problems, with defenders Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Jeremy Mathieu also out. Enrique called up three Barca B players: Marlon Santos, Nili and Carles Alena were all on the bench.

The Barca manager would still have felt confident of beating Granada, who had not picked up a single point in their previous 22 away matches at Camp Nou. The Andalusians were content to defend and play on the counter attack in the first period and their plan worked, with on loan Manchester United forward Andreas Periera, 20, skilful on the left in the moments when they had the ball in the opponents’ half.

Camp Nou, staging its 1,500th game, did come to life in the 12th minute when red cards and white handkerchiefs were waved in the 82,914 crowd as a protest against the Primera Liga's president, Javier Tebas, who had implied that Barca's players were guilty of "going down like bowling pins" after Valencia supporters threw bottles at them in last week's 3-2 win at Mestalla. "Tebas go now!" they shouted, cries that are likely to be ignored.

After Granada became the first team to keep a first-half clean sheet at Camp Nou this season, their defence was breached three minutesinto the second half when Neymar struck the post before a Rafinha bicycle kick put the Catalans in front. It was the Brazilian’s fifth goal of the season, who had been a doubt with a rib injury before the match.

“Rafinha’s output does not surprise me,” Enrique said. “He is getting into the box more and that is important. It’s great to see.”

Given both Madrid sides had won earlier in the day, Barca needed a win. Second-placed Sevilla had only drawn at Sporting Gijon, but Barca laboured to a 1-0 win. Messi was lacking his usual spark, Neymar too. But they did enough to take three points and go second behind Real Madrid.

“We can’t always be brilliant but we did what we had to do and we are happy,” said defender Samuel Umtiti, who was one of Barca’s best performers in a solid defence. Next stop, Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.

RESULTS:

Friday

• Leganes 0 Real Sociedad 2

Saturday

• Sporting Gijon 1 Sevilla 1

• Alaves 1 Real Madrid 4

• Atletico Madrid 4 Malaga 2

• Barcelona 1 Granada 0

FIXTURES:

Sunday (all times UAE)

• Eibar v Villarreal, 3pm

• Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna, 7.15pm