Welcome back to TalkBarca. Our topic for today is the Match Review for Granada vs FC Barcelona. Ronald Koemann traveled with his men away to Granada to face an expected tough encounter. However, the Blaugranas won that game with flying colors. Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi scored two goals and helped their team get three deserving points. Overall, it was a wonderful display of football from the away side. Here is the Match Review of the game discussing the first half and second half of the game individually.
GRANADA VS FC BARCELONA MATCH REVIEW
FIRST HALF
The Blaugranas were stuck with an injury blow during the warmup for the game. Ronald Araujo was ruled out of the game due to injury and it was decided that Oscar Mingueza is going to start alongside Clement Lenglet. Barcelona had a very sluggish start to the game. The Catalans gave away the ball during the early moments of the game which nearly cost them a goal. However, the marvelous Marc Andre Ter Stegen was super alert to save his team. Granada was the first team to put the ball at the back of the net. Unluckily, their goal was ruled as an offside. Then FC Barcelona picked up the pace and woke up.
The away side accelerated their speed of gameplay and began to dominate the home team. Antoine Griezmann scored the first goal for FC Barcelona and gave his team the early lead. Since then, the entire Barca unit looked to dominate the game even more and looked desperate to score more goals. A few minutes later, Antoine Griezmann found Lionel Messi inside the box unmarked and having plenty of space around him. This much was enough for the Argentinean to put the ball away in the back of the net.
Leo scored a goal with a classic Leo Messi finish placing the ball away in the far post. Barcelona looked very dominant and Granada already seemed to be on the back foot. This was a controversial goal as well as Sergio Busquests was accused of deliberately touching the ball with his hand making it easier for him to control. The referees viewed the entire scenario repeatedly. The goal was counted and it was beautiful finish from the captain, Lionel Messi.
However, Leo had more to offer before the first half ended. Pedri was fouled just outside the box and that gave away a freekick to FC Barcelona. Messi scored a very cunning, well placed free-kick goal through the wall. Leo displayed a sight of the old Messi of how his intellect always gave him an upper hand over the opposition.
The first half ended and the Blaugranas went in the tunnel very relaxed and calm. The boss, Ronald Koemann also looked very satisfied. It was an amazing display of football from FC Barcelona. The players ended the first 45 minutes of the game with a 3 goal lead and it already looked curtains for Granada.
FIRST HALF: GRANADA 0-3 FC BARCELONA
SECOND HALF
Granada made three changes at half time. However, they proved to be of no significance. Barca continued to annihilate the game and the home side eventually looked as if it gave up hope. Antoine Griezmann scored the fourth goal of the game for FC Barcelona. Ousmane Dembele set up Antoine Griezmann. The French forward controlled the ball very technically with his left foot and finished it away in the far post with his right foot.
Oscar Mingueza, De Jong, Griezmann, and obviously Messi were superb in this game. Puig replaced Ousmane Dembele. The young midfielder finally got his chance of playing for the team. Puig set up Braithwaite with a wonderful pass. However, Braith could not control it properly and he was also pushed from the back. The player was sent off. This acted as fuel to fire for Granada.
Overall, it was a wonderful football display from FC Barcelona. Ronald Koemann certainly had his tactics on point. Let’s see how consistently can this FC Barcelona game win their matches.
FULL TIME: GRANADA 0-4 FC BARCELONA
