Summer signings Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez both starred as Barcelona defeated Granada 3-1 in La Liga on Saturday.
The Catalans made four changes from their 2-1 Champions League win at Manchester City on Tuesday, starting in goal as Claudio Bravo returned in place of usual European custodian Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
At the back, Marc Bartra and Jeremy Mathieu were preferred to Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta, with Javier Mascherano dropping into central defence and Xavi Hernandez coming into the midfield at Sergio Busquets’ expense.
The match began at a slow tempo due to the Andalucians setting up well defensively and absorbing early Barca pressure, but it also meant chances came few and far between, barring snapshots from the likes of Xavi and Robert Ibanez.
Nonetheless, the visitors broke the deadlock inside 25 minutes from a breakway. A Granada corner was played out to Suarez, whose cross-cum-shot was poorly cleared by Cala, leaving Rakitic with a simple finish near the penalty spot.
The second half was a far more intense affair as both sides looked to attack from the outset, but Barca’s quality quickly came to the fore, Rakitic clipping a perfectly-weighted ball for Suarez to follow through and dink past former Cule Oier.
However, La Blaugrana’s increasing dominance took a hit just five minutes later when Bartra’s leg brought Lass Bangoura down in the box, leaving Fran Rico with the task of burying the succeeding penalty into the bottom-right corner.
It momentarily gave the hosts a much-needed boost and could consider themselves unfortunate to see another spot-kick appeal turned down, Mathieu this time upending Jhon Cordoba, but it would be the cue to another Barca goal.
With the midway point of the restart fast approaching, another pinpoint Rakitic ball was brought down by Suarez, who brought the ball down in the area, attracted the advances of Oier and simply played the ball to Messi for a tap-in.
Granada 1-3 Barcelona
Rico 53 (G) Rakitic 25, Suarez 48, Messi 70 (B)
Granada: Oier; Nyom, Babin, Cala, Foulquier; Iturra, Rico; Ibanez, Marquez (Rochina 67), Lass (Candeias 79); Cordoba (Success 79)
Barcelona: Bravo; Alves, Bartra, Alba, Mathieu (Busquets 75); Mascherano, Rakitic, Xavi (Rafinha 63); Suarez (Pedro 78), Messi, Neymar
Referee: Jaime Latre
