Granada beat Barcelona 2-0 to lead La Liga

Source: Xinhua| 2019-09-22 09:10:39|Editor: ZX
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MADRID, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Granada stunned Barcelona 2-0 on Saturday to go top at the La Liga table.

The home side went ahead two minutes into the game when Ramon Azeez headed in from close range after Gerard Pique had deflected Antonio Puertas's shot over Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Barcelona were so poor in the first half that Ansu Fati and Lionel Messi warmed up at the break and came on at the restart.

When those changes failed to turn the game around Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde brought on Arturo Vidal but his first contribution was to handle in the area and concede a penalty.

Alvaro Vadillo stepped up to take it and sent Marc-Andre Ter Stegen the wrong way to make it 2-0 on 66 minutes.

Messi's presence failed to spark the comeback and Barcelona are left with just seven points from five games.

Three points clear of Barcelona and top of the table are Granada who moved above Sevilla who face Real Madrid Sunday.

Earlier Atletico Madrid missed the chance to go top themselves when they were held at home 0-0 by Celta Vigo.

Atletico dominated the game but struggled to create clear-cut chances with record signing Joao Felix below par and taken off midway through the second half.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Villarreal beat Valladolid 2-0 with goals from Santi Cazorla and Javier Ontiveros. Levante drew 0-0 with Eibar.

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