Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of tonight's La Liga clash between Barcelona and Granada at the Nou Camp.
The home side have won all four of their league matches to date, scoring 12 goals to open up an early eight-point lead over last year's champions Real Madrid.
Granada, meanwhile, sit 18th following a return of two points from four games. They have also won just one of their last 11 matches away from home in La Liga, scoring just one goal in their last six.
Lionel Messi was among the goals the last time the two sides met at the Nou Camp during a 5-3 win for Barcelona last season.
Please note that kickoff is at 9pm.
10.52pmOur full report of the match can be found here. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to join us for the Premier League football tomorrow. Good night!
10.50pmSo there we have it. Barcelona leave it late, but they score twice in the final five minutes to secure all three points. It's cruel on Granada as their poor record at the Nou Camp continues.
FULL-TIMEBarcelona 2-0 Granada
90 min+2Barcelona secure all three points as Borja can only put a Messi cross into his own net. So so cruel.
90 min+2GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Granada (Borja)
90 minWe will play an additional three minutes at the end of the half. Glorious chance for Messi as he drives into the box, but he smashes the post.
89 minChance! So nearly two for the home side as Sanchez finds Pedro in the box, but the Spaniard just chips his effort over the crossbar.
88 minIt is so so cruel on Granada. But that is the business of this league. Football is a very very cruel sport.
87 minOh my word. Finally Barcelona have their goal and it is a wonderful strike from Xavi which smashes in off the crossbar.
87 minGOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Granada (Xavi)
87 minGranada are such a threat on the counter at the moment. But their final ball has twice let them down. All 10 outfield players are attacking for Barcelona at the moment.
85 minCHANCE! Glorious opportunity for Granada to win it as Orellana advances on goal, but Valdes makes the save. Meanwhile, Tono denies Messi straight down the other end.
85 minSo, five minutes of normal time remaining. There should be around three minutes of added time. Granada are so near yet so so far.
83 minPass, pass, pass from Barcelona. Defend, defend, defend from Granada. Sanchez has a half-chance with a header, but it never had enough power.
81 minFabregas throws himself to the ground in the penalty area, but the referee waves his head, correctly. That's poor from the Spaniard.
79 minChance! OH MY WORD! Xavi meets a Tello cross in the box with a powerful strike, but Tono palms it clear. How good has this keeper been?
79 minIt's as you would imagine at the moment. Barcelona dominating possession around the Granada half. But they simply cannot find a final pass.
77 minChance! It totally opens up for Barcelona as Fabregas finds himself unmarked in the box, but Tono produces a wonderful save.
77 minBarcelona have just raised the tempo once more in the past couple of minutes. Surely Granada cannot hang on. Or can they?
76 minWOW! Big penalty shout for the home side as Messi advances on goal, but the referee shakes his head as the Argentine is felled in the box.
75 minGranada respond with a change of their own as Brahimi is replaced by Jaime Romero. The away side are in for a long final 15 minutes here.
73 minMeanwhile, final change of the evening for the home side as Adriano is replaced by Tello. Can the youngster inspire his team?
71 minIt is just so tight in the Granada half at the moment with just about 19 players taking part in each attack for the home side. The crowd are not happy.
69 minChance! Another fine chance for the home side as Pedro whips a low cross into the box, but Fabregas just cannot make contact.
67 minAnother change for the away side as Torje is replaced by Juanma Ortiz. Time is not on Barcelona's side at the moment.
65 minChance! What was I saying? Wonderful from Barcelona as Xavi fires a low cross into the box, but Lopez just beats Messi to the ball. Meanwhile, the Argentine is denied by Tono moments later.
65 minThe match has just gone ever so stale in the past few minutes. Not a great deal is happening to be honest. Barcelona have possession, but nothing is being created.
63 minIt's a rare venture forward for the away side as El-Arabi attacks down the left of the Barcelona defence, but Mascherano comes across to make a fine challenge.
61 minBarcelona need their crowd to lift them at the moment. It is just so flat inside the Nou Camp. Little under 30 minutes remaining of normal time.
59 minChange for the away side as El-Arabi replaces Flores. He looks a big powerful unit.
58 minIt is very much attack versus defence at the moment with Barcelona full of quick passing. Meanwhile, Granada are struggling to keep the ball.
56 minStill Barcelona pass and probe in advanced areas, but Granada just continue to defend so well. But can they seriously hold on for another 35 minutes?
54 minIt's wonderful play from Barcelona as they play a series of one-twos around the box, but Sanchez's effort is over the bar. Meanwhile, double change for the home side as Villa and Thiago are replaced by Xavi and Pedro.
54 minIt's wonderful play from Barcelona as they play a series of one-twos around the box, but Sanchez's effort is over the bar. Meanwhile, double change for the home side as Villa and Thiago are replaced by Xavi and Pedro.
52 minChance! So nearly an opener for Barcelona as Alves finds the head of Song in the box, but once more Tono is on hand to collect. It is much better from the home side.
51 minHalf-chance for the home side as Fabregas spots the run of Villa in the box, but the striker's effort is collected by Tono.
49 minXavi and Co begin their warm up on the sidelines. Not a bad sub to have I suppose? Probably the best midfielder in the world, but no big deal. Meanwhile, the Nou Camp remains silent early in the second period.
47 minDecent start to the second period for the away side as they enjoy a spell of possession. But it breaks down. I am guessing they will not see it again for a while.
46 minGranada kick us off in the second half. They are 45 minutes away from a famous famous result. Remember, they have never picked up a single point at the Nou Camp.
10.02pmHere we go then. Both sides are just readying themselves for the second period. Surely we will have a goal this half?
10.02pmI wonder whether we will see Pedro for Barcelona in the second period. They are crying out for a bit of width and invention in wide areas.
9.59pmThat said, they have enjoyed a staggering 75% of possession. But they have managed just two shots at target. Meanwhile, Granada have had three. Did anyone expect that?
9.56pmSomething tells me that Barcelona will improve in the second period. But there just has not been the usual fluency to their play this evening.
9.53pmWithout question Barcelona improved in the final 10 or so minutes of the opening half. However, Granada will not have been too concerned with what they faced.
9.50pmSo there we have it. Barcelona, who have won all four of their matches this season, sit level with lowly Granada at the break. The home side have had chances, but it has not been the onslaught we were expecting.
HALF-TIMEBarcelona 0-0 Granada
45 minMessi and Villa exchange views in the latter stages of the half. Quite a heated discussion! Meanwhile, we will play an additional one minute.
43 minI am not entirely sure whether the away side have had possession of the ball in the past 10 minutes or so. But still we remain goalless. Can they make it to the break?
41 minAgain it's really smart work from the home side as Messi finds the run of Thiago, but Lopez is there to make the block for what seems like the 100th time.
39 minGranada just cannot get out of their own half at the moment with Barcelona well and truly on top. It's another chance for Messi as he dances into the box, but again the defending is brilliant.
37 minSuddenly Barcelona spring into life as Messi and Villa combine in the box, but it's brilliant defending from Lopez to clear the danger.
35 minHalf-chance for the home side as Messi finds the run of Villa in the box, but the whistle is blown for handball. It has been that type of match thus far.
33 minGranada continue to defend well as Barcelona struggle for the final ball. It's as poor as I have seen the home side in some time. I expect that will change at some point.
31 minChance! Oh my word! Wonderful chance for Granada as Iriney finds Siqueira in the box, but Valdes makes a fine save. That was close.
29 minFinally Messi bursts into life as he dances past two defenders before finding Sanchez, but his cross is cleared. Granada are defending well at the moment.
27 minThe match has just gone ever so bitty in the past few minutes with the away side jumping into a few dangerous challenges. It's a bit of nothing match at the moment truth be told.
25 minFirst yellow card of the match goes to Floro Flores as he dives in on Busquets after losing the ball. Although it must be said that the Spaniard made a lot of it. Surprise, surprise.
23 minChance! Finally a clear opening for the home side as Fabregas meets the ball on the edge of the box, but Tono makes a smart save with Messi lurking.
21 minSo, 21 minutes in. Just one serious chance for Barcelona. Nothing from Granada, but they have defended well. They force a free kick in the Barcelona half, but it is wasted.
19 minReally bright play from the home side as Messi plays a delightful ball to Villa, but the striker is just ruled offside. Granada have 10 players behind the ball every time Barcelona attack.
17 minIt has been quite a sloppy start from Barcelona as Fabregas hands possession back to the away side. It's been nice to watch, but no real chances aside from the Messi one early on.
15 minNo real atmosphere inside the Nou Camp this evening either. It is almost as if the crowd have just turned up waiting for their side to do something. That's the problem with these type of matches.
13 minHalf-chance for the home side as Alves whips a dangerous cross into the box, but Lopez just makes contact before Thiago. It has been quite a slow start from Barcelona.
13 minAlves, Mascherano, Song, Adriano. For starters Mascherano and Song are both midfielders. And the two full-backs could easily play wide in midfield. Very strange situation.
11 minHalf-chance for the away side as Floro Flores nips between Song, but his strike is straight at Valdes. Do Barcelona actually have any defenders?
9 minStill Barcelona play their one touch passing in the early stages. No real attacking threat from Granada thus far.
7 minChance! So nearly 1-0 for the home side as Alves finds Messi with a wonderful ball, but Siqueira makes a fine block to clear it for a corner.
6 minMeanwhile, it is David Villa's first start for 10 months this evening. How good is it to see him back? Well not for opposing teams! All Barcelona at the moment.
4 minBarcelona begin to pass and probe in the Granada half with Fabregas and Busquets both enjoying early touches of the ball. It must be said what a wonderful stadium this is by the way.
2 minGranada have never won here, or picked up a single point in 18 games at the Nou Camp. It doesn't make good reading. However, the away side attack down the left in the early stages.
1 minHere we go then. Barcelona kick us off on this warm evening in Spain. I am expecting a fair few goals tonight.
8.59pmA final word ahead of the match. Messi has spent a period out the team this season, and is still not back to full fitness. But he has scored 10 goals in seven games. Rubbish if you ask me.
8.58pmIt's prediction time! I'm going for Barcelona 4-0. But I think it could be anything. It just depends how early they score.
8.56pmHere we go then. Both sets of players are just making their way onto the pitch. You can get as high as 28/1 for a Granada win this evening. That is as big as you will see in La Liga. But not for me.
8.54pmJust a final reminder that Barcelona could move 11, yes 11 points clear of Real Madrid with a win this evening. Is there any way that Madrid could close that gap? That is huge.
8.52pmBarcelona subs: Pinto, Bartra, Alba, Xavi, Sergi, Pedro, Tello
Granada subs: Roberto, Mainz, Romero, Ortiz, Hurtado, El Arabi, Machis
8.50pmRight, we are just about 10 minutes from kickoff this evening. It's a front three of Messi, Sanchez and Villa for Barcelona. That isn't too bad is it?
8.48pmJust a reminder that there were two La Liga games which were completed earlier: Zaragoza 3-1 Osasuna and Celta Vigo 2-1 Getafe. Meanwhile, Real Betis currently lead Espanyol 1-0.
8.46pmTalking of teams at the top of La Liga. Let's have a moment to mention Malaga. They are right on Barcelona's tails with 10 points, while they recorded victory in the Champions League against Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday.
8.44pmThe form guide does not make good reading for Granada, however, with the away side failing to win in their last six league games. Meanwhile, Barcelona have won five out of their last six. Could we seriously be in for a shock this evening? I cannot see it.
8.42pmAs mentioned, Barcelona have won all four of their league matches this season, but they have managed just one clean sheet. Criticism that they are vulnerable at the back is fair, with teams able to 'get at' Tito Vilanova's side away from home.
8.40pmIt has been stated in some quarters that Barcelona are not as good as they were last season, but they have won all of their league games, and their first Champions League match this season. I bet a few teams wish they were not at their best this season!
8.38pmSo there we have it. Song and Mascherano start in the middle of the defence for the home side. Meanwhile, Antonio Floro Flores starts for Getafe, but Darwin Machis has not made it.
8.36pmTeams:
Barcelona: Valdes; Alves, Song, Mascherano, Adriano; Thiago, Fabregas, Busquets; Villa, Sanchez, Messi
Granada: Tono; Nyom, Guilherme, Inigo Lopez, Borja Gomez; Rico, Ortiz, Iriney; Floro Flores, El Arabi, Orellana
8.34pmTEAM NEWS: Alex Song and David Villa both start for Barcelona. Full team news to follow.
8.32pmGood evening all! We are back to La Liga action this evening with Barcelona on display against a tricky Granada outfit. There has been a change of manager at Barcelona, but still the results remain the same.
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
