Barcelona cut Real Madrid’s lead at the top of the Spanish Primera Liga to one point when in-form forward Luis Suarez played a part in all three of their goals in a scrappy 3-1 victory at Granada on Saturday.
Barca struggled to find their rhythm in the early stages but took the lead in the 25th minute when Ivan Rakitic smashed the ball in from close range after Granada’s Cala failed to clear a Suarez centre.
Lionel Messi twice went close before Suarez ran on to a chipped Rakitic pass and slipped the ball past home goalkeeper Oier to make it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.
Barca appeared to be cruising, but Granada pulled a goal back five minutes later when Marc Bartra felled Lassane Bangoura in the area and Fran Rico stroked the spot kick past Claudio Bravo.
Suarez proved too much for the hosts, though, and he sped clear in the 70th minute, left Oier floundering and unselfishly set up Messi to find the empty net. It capped another fine performance from Suarez, who struck twice in Tuesday's 2-1 Uefa Champions League win at Manchester City after Barca had been beaten 1-0 at home by Malaga last weekend.
Messi fluffed two good chances in the closing stages when twice sent clear by Neymar, leaving the Argentina captain on 27 league goals for the season, two behind top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I think it was important for us to keep racking up points after a tough game against Malaga,” Rakitic said. “It’s always a difficult challenge here, but I think we worked really hard and deserved the win.
“What was really impressive was the intensity of the team from the kickoff, and we have to continue in the same way.”
Barca have 59 points from 25 matches with Real on 60 from 24 ahead of their game at home to sixth-placed Villarreal on Sunday. Champions Atletico Madrid are six points adrift of Barca in third and visit Sevilla, who are fifth.
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