BARCELONA returned to the top of the La Liga table with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Granada at the Nou Camp.
In the Catalan giants’ first game since the arrival of new manager Quique Setien, they appeared to be struggling to find a way through a resolute visitors defence.
New manager Quique Setien was bailed out by Lionel Messi in his first game in charge
As the per the custom for the Spanish champions, they had a ridiculous 82 per cent possession at half time but had struggled to turn all that retention into penetration.
And they were made to sweat midway through the second half when Yan Eteki found space on the edge of the area and fired a low drive into the foot of the post.
Having fortunately remained level, it was the magician Lionel Messi who made them pay 13 minutes from time when he finished off a simply sublime Barcelona move.
The Argentine started it all by finding Antoine Griezmann on the edge of the area before the Frenchman slipped in Arturo Vidal.
Vidal then played an exquisite back heel into the path of Messi who made no mistake with an ice cool finish.
The goal was his 16th of the season in just 20 matches and his 14th in the league, two more than the next best Karim Benzema.
Despite the victory, Setien will not have been best pleased with what he saw in his first match in charge as Barca continue in their pursuit of a third successive league title.
Messi saved Barcelona once again with a goal late on to take all three pointsCredit: AFP or licensors
Barcelona are now back top of the table by virtue of having a better goal difference than Real Madrid.
The two titans have to wait until March 1 to meet for the second time this season, after their first encounter ended in a drab 0-0.
Next up for Barcelona is a trip to Ibiza in the Copa del rey round of 32 on Wednesday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
