It looked like this was going to be one of those night’s for Barcelona as they could not find a way past a stubborn stubborn Granada side inspired by goalkeeper Antonio Toño.
Granada went into the match without a win this season, and having lost on all 18 of their previous trips to the Nou Camp, but excellent defensive organisation kept them level at the break, after which they relied on the reflexes of Toño, who made a string of stunning saves to deny and frustrate Barca.
Granada looked set to earn an unlikely point, but substitute Xavi Hernández broke Granada’s hearts with a goal three minutes from time when he crashed a volley in off the bar. Barca then scored a second in added time when Borja Gómez turned Lionel Messi’s cross into his own goal.
Elsewhere, Real Betis got their third win of the season as Paulão’s 18th-minute strike was enough to beat Espanyol 1-0. Espanyol are in serious trouble having only picked up one point all season, and remain joint bottom with Osasuna
Finally, Osasuna is still winless on the season after losing 3-1 at Real Zaragoza, while Celta Vigo overcame ten-man Getafe 2-1 thanks to second half goals from summer signings Augusto Fernandez and Park Chu-Young.
