Barcelona returned to the winning ways
in La Liga with a good 4-0 victory at
Camp Nou against Granada , thanks to a
hat-trick from Lionel Messi and a goal
from Neymar. It was a nice, easy victory
with very little fight from the opponents.
A fifteen-minute blitz gave the Blaugrana
two goals, and then it wasn't hard to
control the match and finish the weekend
with an important win.
FIRST HALF
Granada came out in a surprising way,
differently from most teams at Camp
Nou: pushing forward, trying to disrupt
the build-up play in hopes to recover the
ball close to the opposing box. That
naturally left gaps on the defensive side,
which Barça quickly saw and worked on.
Lionel Messi found Arda Turan on the
left side, and the Turkish midfielder got
his first assist in a Blaugrana kit, finding
Messi again for the opening goal.
Seven minutes later, a beautiful
combination by the 'MSN' trio, started by
Neymar and assisted by Suárez ended
with Messi's second goal of the half.
From then on, the Blaugranes were
hoping to find chances through patient
play, but couldn't convert for a third or
fourth score. Still, it was a pleasant, easy
half, with a win already in the bag.
SECOND HALF
Same script: Granada going forward,
Barça taking advantage of the gaps left
behind. With more possession, and
control, Barça continued dominating,
and got the third goal again in the initial
fifteen minutes. A Neymar shot hit the
post and fell to Messi, who got his hat-
trick with a calm finish.
Both teams weren't as intense for the
remainder of the game and seemed
content with the result staying what it
was, but as soon as the ball got to MSN's
feet, another goal came. Luis Suárez
assisted Neymar, who got his goal and
stretched the lead.
In the end, a very good, comfortable
victory, and everything back on track.
Barcelona: Bravo; Vidal (Alves), Piqué,
Vermaelen, Alba; Roberto, Rakitic, Turan
(Adriano); Messi, Suárez, Neymar
Goals: Messi (7', 14', 58'), Neymar (83')
Granada: Andrés; Edgar, Lombán, Dória,
Biraghi; Rochina (Javi Márquez), Krhin
(Mainz), Rubén Pérez, Uche, Success;
Peñaranda (Ibáñez)
