Granada CF 0 : 1 Barcelona - Xavi strike sees of Granada

Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2011 by PA

Champions Barcelona returned to winning ways in the Primera Division but had to grind out the three points in a 1-0 win against nine-man Granada.

Although it was a less than emphatic success, Barca they did get the job done against their struggling hosts as captain Xavi's first-half free-kick was just about enough to earn them the victory.

It was a tough night for Pep Guardiola's side, however, and could have been even harder had Granada not lost striker Jaime Romero in the 53rd minute and Daniel Benitez in added time.

Guardiola handed 20-year-old winger Isaac Cuenca his full debut following a brief cameo in last week's Champions League win at home to Viktoria Plzen, despite having the likes of David Villa and Andres Iniesta available, with the duo among the substitutes.

Lionel Messi prodded and probed in the early exchanges and sent a shot from the right side of the area whistling past the post.

Cuenca got involved too as his teasing cross whistled through the area and a shot moments later was not far off target while Ikechukwu Uche volleyed over at the other end.

Captain for the night Xavi tested Granada keeper Roberto for the first time with a driven shot from outside the box before Pedro wasted his side's best chance in the 21st minute, rising well but heading Daniel Alves' cross just wide.

Centre-back Eric Abidal smashed a left-footed effort at Roberto's near post but the keeper made the stop.

The deadlock was broken from a set-piece and it was Xavi who made the difference from a disputed free-kick, stroking home from 20 yards in the 33rd minute to give his side a deserved lead.

Granada's cause was severely undermined by Jaime's dismissal for an ill-advised challenge on Maxwell, earning him a second yellow card for a high boot early in the second half. Moments earlier Pedro had suffered a nasty-looking knee injury which forced him off early.

Messi looked to have made it 2-0 when he timed his run perfectly and beat Roberto, only for Diego Mainz to hook the ball to safety on the line.

Cuenca blotted his copybook with a booking shortly after the hour mark after missing a half chance while Messi and Cesc Fabregas also wasted efforts.

As the clock ran down there was a spate of further cautions, with Benitez's second yellow for petulantly kicking the ball away a fitting end to a scrappy encounter.