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May 14, 2016 at 4pm UK
 
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Preview: Granada vs. Barcelona

:Headline: Preview: Granada vs. Barcelona: ID:272599: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews Saturday's La Liga clash between Granada and the league leaders Barcelona.

Three points for Barcelona away at Granada this weekend and the Catalan outfit would claim a 24th La Liga title and continue their dominance of Spanish football.

However, any slip-up would open the door for second-placed Real Madrid to complete one of the most remarkable turnarounds in history to snatch the championship away on the final weekend.


Granada

Granada's 4-1 win at Sevilla last weekend took away their relegation fears and ensured that they would welcome Barcelona on Saturday afternoon free from pressure.

Jose Gonzalez's team were in deep trouble at the start of April and a 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on April 17 left them staring relegation in the face. They have responded in impressive fashion, however, winning three of their last four in Spain's top flight.

El Grana thumped Levante at home on April 21, but lost 2-1 at Celta Vigo one week later to leave them in the relegation mix. Back-to-back victories followed, however, and they can no longer finish in the bottom three entering the final weekend of the season.

Ten wins, nine draws and 18 defeats is how Granada have performed in the 2015-16 campaign, and while they have a poor record against Barcelona, the Andalusian side are unbeaten in their last six home league games - winning three times in the process.

Since gaining promotion to La Liga in the 2010-11 season, Granada have not finished above 15th. They only just survived relegation last season and that has again been the case this time around.

However, their form has improved under new manager Gonzalez, who replaced Jose Ramon Sandoval in February, and one look at their squad suggests that they should be pushing for a top-half finish next season rather than preparing for another battle against the drop.

Recent form: DLWLWW


Barcelona

On March 12, Barcelona were 15 points clear of Real Madrid in the La Liga table, and it seemed unthinkable that the title race would enter the final weekend of the season.

Atletico Madrid have ultimately fallen just short and can no longer win the title, but Real Madrid would snatch the crown away from Barcelona if they beat Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday and Luis Enrique's side fail to record all the points against Granada.

Between April 2 and April 17, Barcelona lost three successive league matches - two of which came at Camp Nou. They have responded in emphatic style, however, winning their last four in Spain's top flight without conceding.

They thumped Espanyol 5-0 at Camp Nou last weekend to make it 21 goals in their last four league games and despite a wobble, they will hold off pressure from the capital with a fifth straight league success this weekend.

If Barcelona win this match, they would claim the title with 91 points, which is fewer than in the last four league seasons where they have won the division (99, 96, 100 and 94).

There will be no treble this season after being knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid, but Barcelona can still win a double as they prepare to take on Sevilla in the final of the Copa del Rey later this month.

It is no surprise that Barcelona's La Liga destiny is in their own hands entering week 38, but nerves will be present and Real Madrid will be ready to pounce at any sign of weakness.

Recent form: LLWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): LLWWWW


Team News

Diego Mainz and Isaac Success remain on the sidelines for the home side, but Isaac Cuenca is expected to overcome a knock to face his former club.

Cuenca, who netted twice against Sevilla last time out, should start on the right of midfield, leaving skipper Ruben Rochina on the opposite side.

David Barral and Fran Rico are both pushing for spots in the XI after starting the Sevilla clash on the bench.

As for Barcelona, Claudio Bravo missed the win over Espanyol with a calf problem, but the Chilean goalkeeper is expected to return between the sticks.

Enrique has no fresh injury concerns from the Catalan derby and is expected to name the same 10 outfield players that thumped their rivals at Camp Nou last weekend.

Luis Suarez will be looking to add to his 11 goals in his last four league appearances.

Granada possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Lopes, Babin, Costa, Biraghi; Rochina, Doucoure, Perez, Cuenca; El-Arabi, Penaranda
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi


Head To Head

Granada have lost 15 of their last 17 league games against Barcelona and managed just one win in the process.

What's more, at Los Carmenes, Granada have won just one of their last eight against the Catalan giants - losing six times and drawing once.

The reverse clash at Camp Nou this season ended in a 4-0 Barcelona win, with Lionel Messi hitting a hat-trick for Enrique's side.


We say: Granada 1-3 Barcelona

Granada will be allowed to play with freedom after securing survival last weekend, but it is very difficult to imagine Barcelona failing to collect all the points. We expect second-placed Real Madrid to beat Deportivo La Coruna, but Barcelona to win the title with three points in Granada.



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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97
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