Barca make Granada comeback but lose ground in La Liga

Issued on: 08/10/2023 - 23:19Modified: 08/10/2023 - 23:36

3 min

Bryan Zaragoza sent the hosts two goals ahead but Lamine Yamal and Sergi Roberto's goals preserved the champions' record as the only unbeaten team in La Liga.

However the Catalans are now third and sit three points behind leaders Real Madrid, and one behind neighbours Girona, who both won on Saturday.

Zaragoza struck twice in the first half, breaking the deadlock after only 17 seconds -- the fastest goal Barcelona have conceded in the 21st century.

Yamal pulled Barcelona back into the game just before half-time, becoming La Liga's youngest ever goalscorer in the process at 16 years and 87 days.

Xavi Hernandez's side levelled with three minutes remaining when substitute Sergi Roberto turned home, but they could not find a late winner in a high-octane finale.

It was the third comeback they have made in recent weeks, beating Celta Vigo from two goals down and twice falling behind at Mallorca in another 2-2 draw.

"I think we totally dominated, we created chances, we deserved more, but (we drew) because of our own mistakes, we can't start off in that way," Xavi told DAZN.

"We take away a point, which for us, is not enough."

Barcelona's night was also marred by a knee injury to Jules Kounde, with the Catalans already tending to Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Raphinha in the treatment room.

Xavi deployed Ferran Torres as a false nine to replace Lewandowski, while he handed Fermin Lopez his first start for the club in midfield.

The coach left Oriol Romeu on the bench, starting without a pure defensive midfielder and dividing the role up between Ilkay Gundogan and Gavi.

The latter turned into trouble immediately, with Granada stealing the ball from the young midfielder in the build-up to the first goal.

Lucas Boye fed Zaragoza, who fired across Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who might have done more to keep the shot from finding the bottom corner, although the ball appeared to bobble before passing the Barcelona goalkeeper.

Gavi forced a save at the other end and Joao Felix fired wide as Barcelona hunted for the equaliser.

Zaragoza doubled the hosts' lead at the Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium with a brilliant individual goal, leaving Kounde wobbling before finishing sublimely with the outside of his boot into the top corner.

"He's a player who is not easy to stop when he's sprinting," admitted Xavi.

Barcelona found a route back into the match in first-half stoppage time when Felix prodded the ball into Yamal's path just a couple of yards out and he rolled home to break yet another record.

However there was no time for Spain's youngest ever player and goalscorer, to celebrate.

Barcelona sought the equaliser, with Gundogan forcing a good stop from Andre Ferreira and Ronald Araujo hammering inches wide.

Eventually it came through Sergi Roberto, who turned home Alejandro Balde's low cross, while Granada complained about a collision earlier in the move they wanted called as a foul.

Zaragoza almost claimed his hat-trick as the hosts responded furiously, but he crashed a shot off the post as the game flew end-to-end.

Felix headed in what he thought was the winner and Xavi leapt for joy on the touchline, but Ferran Torres, who did not touch the ball yet was ruled to be interfering with play, was offside.

"The feeling is that just as easily as they ruled it out they could have given it ... Ferran is not interfering with anyone," said Xavi.

Granada coach Paco Lopez said he was proud of his team and that he hoped 22-year-old winger Zaragoza would keep his feet on the ground.

"I congratulate my team and my players, I can't ask for more from them," Lopez told DAZN.

"We have to keep cool heads with (Zaragoza), because he's got out of the ordinary talent but has to work hard."

The draw keeps Granada 19th, two points from safety.

© 2023 AFP