Granada 1-4 Barcelona: Suarez and Neymar party, without Leo Messi
The South American duo helped Barcleona dismantle the hosts at Nuevo Los Carmenes
Paco Alcacer and Ivan Rakitic netted the other goals for the Blaugrana to earn a good result
Neymar got his 100th goal for Barcelona but Luis Suarez was the star of the show as the Catalans kept pace with Real Madrid on Sunday night by winning at Granada.
With no Lionel Messi and no Gerard Pique, this was never going to be the easiest night for the visitors, particularly when Luis Enrique also decided to rest captain Andres Iniesta and Samuel Umtiti for the clash with Sevilla on Wednesday.
Barcelona made hard work of Granada, even as they ran out 4-1 winners in the end, although the performance of Mexican stopper Guilherme Ochoa kept the hosts in the game longer than they may have merited.
He made fine stops from various Barcelona players, including Suarez, who was also denied by the crossbar when he lobbed the goalkeeper.
However, his next attempt at a lob went rather better, with Jordi Alba’s inch-perfect long ball playing ion the Uruguayan, who lofted the ball over the approaching Ochoa to break the deadlock.
Granada were level soon after the break with Chelsea loanee Jeremie Boga, on as a half-time substitute, firing home after catching the defence asleep.
Barcelona had started in their 4-3-3 formation with the absences leaving Luis Enrique unsure of his recent 3-4-3 set up, with Andre Gomes out on the right and Rafinha in the centre.
Injury to the Brazilian led the Portuguese midfielder to come inside with Paco Alcacer brought on to play on the right wing .
He took a while to get into the game but when he did, it was to good effect, putting the finishing touch on Suarez’s through-ball to send Barcelona back ahead.
Ivan Rakitic’s deflected strike sealed the points before Alcacer crossed for Neymar to net and hit his personal milestone in stoppage time.
Three points that leave things as they were in the title race.
