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FC Barcelona host Granada CF in La Liga Matchday 10

By Benjamin Barkworth

GRANADA, SPAIN - MAY 14: Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his teamates Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba during the La Liga match between Granada CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes on May 14, 2016 in Granada, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
GRANADA, SPAIN - MAY 14: Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his teamates Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba during the La Liga match between Granada CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes on May 14, 2016 in Granada, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona have a match against Granada in La Liga which should be an easy game for the Catalans.

Form

Going in to this match, Barça are on a good run of form with three wins in a row. They have four wins in their last five games, and seven wins in the last ten. This suggests that they are starting to be at a level of consistency that we would expect from such a talented team. In contrast to this, Granada are in terrible form. They are yet to win this season, and have only picked up three points in nine games. Just looking at form alone suggests that this will be an easy match for Barcelona.

Squads

More from Analysis

The Catalans had a total of eight injuries prior to this match. There is a chance that three of those could make the squad: Rafinha, Arda Turan and Jasper Cillessen. However, the rest definitely won’t be back for this match which weakens the squad substantially. Gerard Piqué and Jordi Alba picked up ankle and hamstring injuries respectively in the match against Manchester City. Both of these players should be back in the next few weeks.

Andrés Iniesta picked up a nasty looking knee injury after a heavy challenge from Enzo Pérez in the match against Valencia which means he is out for a couple of months. Jérémy Mathieu and Wilfrid Kaptoum both picked up injuries in training which rules them out for a while. However, the positive for these injuries is that some of the academy players on the periphery of the squad could be included and therefore have the chance to play.

Granada have three injuries to contend with currently. Gastón Silva and Gabriel Silva both have muscle injuries, and Dimitri Foulquier has a thigh injury although there is a slight chance that Gabriel will make the squad. The absence of these players weakens an already frail defence, so it could be a fruitful day ahead for the Barcelona front three. One player that you make recognise in the Granada team is the on loan Sergi Samper who is a promising young prospect for Barça.

Photo by VI Images via Getty Images.
Photo by VI Images via Getty Images. /

History

History heavily favours Barcelona in this fixture with the Catalans winning nine of the last ten fixtures. Each of the games at the Camp Nou in that run has been a victory for Barça with the only time that the Andalusians gained any points was when they won at home in 2014. In the last ten games, Barcelona have scored thirty goals against them with only six conceded which shows their domination in this fixture. This fixture also brings up pleasant memories for the Catalans due to them securing the La Liga title last season after they won at Granada. Lionel Messi has bagged eleven goals against the Andalusians in the last ten games. Neymar and Luis Suárez have both scored hat-tricks in previous fixtures against this team, so each member of the M-S-N trio will be hoping to add to their tally against them.

VALENCIA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 22: Neymar JR of Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Mestalla Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
VALENCIA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 22: Neymar JR of Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Mestalla Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) /

Playing Style

Granada started the season with Paco Jémez who emphasised possession play which he developed in his time with Rayo Vallecano. However, he only lasted six games before being sacked after a terrible start to the season. Since then they have focused on defending in deep, and playing on the counter-attack which hasn’t been successful either. Recent results include a 7-1 loss to Atlético Madrid, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Barça got a similar amount of goals. The loss of Piqué is important due to his intelligence in terms of positioning which is vital when playing against the counter. However, the Andalusians shouldn’t prove too much of an issue due to them only scoring eight goals in nine games this season which shows how toothless they are in terms of attack. The Granada defence has been exceptionally leaky so far this season with twenty-three goals conceded. Therefore, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue for the attacking talent of the Catalans to get on the scoresheet especially with the form that Messi is in currently. This fixture is the ideal game before a big Champions League midweek game due to the potential for squad rotation.

Prediction: FC Barcelona 6-0 Granada CF

Potential Lineups

Most likely lineup, with Jasper Cillessen being given the chance to play. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the majority of the M-S-N trio is substituted off at half time if Barcelona are winning comfortably.

A more adventurous lineup which allows some of the key players full chance to rest.