Teenage winger Lamine Yamal scored twice as Barcelona came from behind to beat La Liga strugglers Granada in a six-goal thriller.
The 16-year-old opened the scoring for the hosts, but Ricard Sanchez equalized from Facundo Pellistri's cross.
In six frenetic minutes, Manchester United winger Pellistri, on loan at Manchester United, added the visitors' second goal, Roberto Lewandofussi equalized and Ignasi Mikel restored Granada's lead.
Yamal's second goal was the winning goal.
Although Yamal's contribution was very positive, it was yet another disappointment for Barcelona from the perspective of the title race.
Xavi's side are currently 10 points behind leaders Real Madrid, and have missed out on a chance to close in on second-placed Girona, who are five points behind.
Their performance underlined why Xavi decided to leave the club at the end of the season and convinced the Catalan club that a change of direction was needed.
Granada, who have only won one point on the road this season and are in a relegation battle, faced a multi-layered Barça defense that conceded almost five times as many goals at home as they did all of last season. It looked like they could score easily.
lineup
Barcelona
formation 4-3-3
- 1ter stegen
- twenty threeKunde
- 33Kvarshi
- Fivemartinez
- 2CanceloReplacementRafinhain 75 minutesminutes
- twenty oneF. de Jong
- 15ChristensenReplacementlopezin 67 minutesminutesBooked in 78 minutes
- twenty twoGundogan
- 27Yamal
- 9lewandowski
- 8PedriReplacementGiuin 89 minutesminutes
substitute
- FourAraujo
- 11Rafinha
- 13Peña Sotores
- 16lopez
- 30casado
- 31kochen
- 37victor
- 38Giu
- 39fort
granada
formation 4-1-4-1
- twenty fivebatara
- 12Sanchez
- FourRubio
- 14MikelBooked in 78 minutes
- 3Mauassa
- 6Honra
- 19PerilistryReplacementJozwiakin 84 minutesminutes
- 20LewisBooked for 33 minutes
- twenty threeGumbauReplacementtorrentein 90+5'minutes
- twenty oneMelendoReplacementCallejonin 75 minutesminutes
- 11WhirlpoolReplacementArezoin 84 minutesminutes
substitute
- 8Arezo
- 9Callejon
- TenRodriguez Diaz
- 13martinez
- 15Neva
- 17corbeanu
- 18Jozwiak
- 28torrente
- 31lopez
- 32bosch
- Referee:
- Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias
- Attendance:
- 41,901
live text
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Game over, Barcelona 3, Granada CF 3.
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End of the second half, Barcelona 3, Granada CF 3.
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Attempt saved. Robert Lewandowski's (Barcelona) header from the left side of the six-yard box was saved in the top left corner.
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Substituted, Granada CF. Raul Torrente replaces Gerard Gumbau.
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Attempt failed. Marc Giu (Barcelona) took a header from close range, but it missed the top right corner of the goal.
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Foul by Jules Kounde (Barcelona).
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Jose Callejon (Granada CF) wins a free kick inside the defence.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Pedri was replaced by Marc Giu.
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I'm late. They are ready to continue.
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Augusto Batala (Granada CF) was late to the match due to injury.
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Foul by Rafinha (Barcelona).
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Kamil Jozwiak (Granada CF) wins a free kick on the right.
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Attempt saved. Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona) fired a header from the center of the box, but it was saved in the center of the goal. Lamine Yamal assists the cross.
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Substituted, Granada CF. Kamil Jozwiak replaces Facundo Pellistri.
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Substituted, Granada CF. Matias Aleso replaces Milt Uzuni.
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Attempt failed. Miguel Rubio (Granada CF) took a header from the center of the box, but it went wide of the left side of the frame. Jose Callejon assisted the cross from the corner kick.
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Corner, Granada CF. Marc-Andre ter Stegen concedes a goal.
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Attempt saved. Milt Uzuni (Granada CF) fired a right-footed shot from the right side of the box that was saved in the top right corner. Assisted with a through pass from Ricard Sanchez.
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goal! Barcelona 3, Granada CF 3. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) scores a left-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom right corner.
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Rafinha (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defense.
