Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi move Barcelona to within a point of Real Madrid

Sport360 staff 00:49 01/03/2015
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  • Lionel Messi (R) celebrates scoring Barcelona's third goal with teammate Luis Suarez (L) during the La Liga match against Granada.

    Barcelona moved to within a point of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga as Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were on target in a 3-1 win at Granada on Saturday.

    Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring for the visitors as he profited from a mishit Suarez shot before half-time and Suarez himself then prodded in the second just after the break.

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    Fran Rico’s penalty briefly gave Granada hope, but Suarez teed up Messi to make the points safe 20 minutes from time.

    Granada’s offside trap frustrated Barca in the early stages, but they were caught flat-footed for the opener on 25 minutes as Luis Suarez was played in by Jordi Alba and the Uruguayan’s mishit shot fell perfectly off the unfortunate Cala for Rakitic to slam home.

    Messi came within inches of a stunning second 10 minutes before the break as he controlled the ball instantly on his left-foot before flashing a right-footed volley over the bar at the end of a flowing counter-attack.

    Three minutes after the break, though, Suarez gave Barca the cushion they desired when he latched onto Rakitic’s through ball and slotted home with the outside of his right foot.

    Lionel Messi competes for the ball with Dimitri Foulquier of Granada.

    Granada were handed a lifeline just four minutes later when this time Bartra was penalised for a foul on Lass Bangoura and Rico thumped the resultant spot-kick past Bravo.

    Yet, in their push for an equaliser, Granada left more space in behind for Barcelona to exploit in the closing stages and were picked off again by a Rakitic pass into Suarez. The former Liverpool man then rode a challenge from Oier before squaring for Messi to roll the ball into the unguarded net.

     

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