Granada CF vs Barcelona preview - Barca gunning for top spot

Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2011 by PA

Barcelona will attempt to reclaim top spot in the Primera Division when they take on lowly Granada, but coach Pep Guardiola is not expecting it to be easy against the top-flight newcomers.

Barca slipped to third place in the table after dropping their first home points of the season on Saturday when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Sevilla at the Nou Camp.

That result left Barca two points behind surprise leaders Levante and a point adrift of arch rivals Real Madrid, but the reigning European and Spanish champions can return to pole position - at least for 24 hours - with a victory over Granada tomorrow.

The Catalan giants will be expected to bounce back from their weekend disappointment with a three-point haul against third-bottom Granada, who have picked up just five points from eight games so far, but Guardiola is not underestimating the Andalusian side.

"They are a daring, brave and very dynamic team, who have deserved to win both games they have drawn. We'll have to see how we respond after the last match," said Guardiola.

The Barca coach also showed little sign of concern about his side being knocked off top spot, saying: "I don't think losing the leadership creates anxiety, it could do, but there are still 90 points left to play for. We need to think that if we aren't first it's because other teams are doing better.

"What we need to do is look at what we've done wrong."

Barca have not done much wrong this season. They are still one of only three unbeaten teams in La Liga alongside Levante and Sevilla, while goals have not been a problem with the team scoring 42 times in 13 competitive games this term prior to the Sevilla stalemate.

Granada can only dream of such a record after finding it tough on their return to the top division for the first time in 35 years, losing five of their eight games so far.

However, they not been an easy side to turn over at home, beating Villarreal 1-0 and playing out draws with Atletico Madrid and Osasuna, and coach Fabri Gonzalez will hope to claim the prized scalp of Barca tomorrow night, insisting: "Nobody is invincible".

Gonzalez knows it will not be easy though, adding: "Everyone thinks they (Barca) are the best side in the world. It's going to be difficult against a team who, whoever they are playing, are going to have 70% of the ball."

He also admitted that no matter how well his team defend, Barca are "always going to have chances".

Barca are without Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Alexis Sanchez and Ibrahim Afellay for the match, while Granada are missing Richard Boateng, Carlos Martins and Hassan Yebda through injury.