Barcelona 1-0 Granada: Messi gives Setien winning start with dominant display

Quique Setien's influence was clear to see, but Barcelona could not break down Granada until Lionel Messi finally scored.

Match Reports

Barcelona were made to work by 10-man Granada at Camp Nou on Sunday in Quique Setien's first game in charge before Lionel Messi secured a 1-0 win.

The champions needed three points to reclaim top spot in LaLiga from Real Madrid but were mostly blunted by a disciplined defensive display in windy conditions in Catalonia.

Setien set his side up in a 3-4-3 variation reminiscent of Pep Guardiola's old formation but, despite enjoying close to 82 per cent of the possession, clear-cut chances were hard to come by.

Barca were given an advantage when German Sanchez was sent off and Messi eventually made the breakthrough with 14 minutes of normal time left as the attack finally clicked into gear.

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Match Events

10' Fati misses a good chance!

BARCELONA WASTE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY! Messi ghosts past Eketi and draws to players into his path before slipping a delightful pass through the lines for Alba. The left-back opts not to take on a shot, instead of laying it off for Fati, who blasts his close-range effort high over the bar!

13' Messi's free-kick just over the bar!

CLOSE! Messi steps up and curls the free-kick with his left foot, sending it narrowly over the crossbar, forcing Rui Silva into an anticipatory leap just in case.

45' CLOSE! Messi inches just wide of the near post

JUST WIDE! Alba cuts the ball back for the oncoming Messi, whose first-time effort is swept just wide of the near post!

66' POST! Eteki almost scores for Granada

OFF THE BASE OF THE POST! Granada have their first real chance of the match and it’s agonisingly close as Eteki leads a counter-attack after a giveaway in Barcelona’s midfield, before drilling a shot against the inside of the post! The ball unkindly bounces away from goal, allowing the defence to clear!

69' Second Yellow Card! German Sanchez sent off

SANCHEZ IS SENT OFF! The Granada defender is given his marching orders after stepping across Messi and taking him out, near the Granada 18-yard box. The foul doesn’t appear to be anything malicious, but the match official has deemed it worthy of a second booking as the visitors are reduced to 10 men!

71' Subs! Riqui Puig replaces Rakitic

76' GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Granada (Messi)

NO SURPRISE AS MESSI BREAKS THE DEADLOCK! 1-0! Puig wins the ball back high up the pitch, sparking a Barcelona attack out of nowhere. Griezmann flicks a quick pass through for Vidal, who holds off a defender and backheels a pass to Messi - the captain stroking a side-footed effort past the unmoved Rui Silva!

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