Barcelona’s vintage playing style in their 1-0 win over Granada highlights La Liga’s Sunday action.
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Barcelona 1-0 Granda
With a goal from Lionel Messi against an iron-willed Granada, Barcelona are back at the top of La Liga.
The win is the club’s first under Quique Setien, who debuted as the Catalans manager after replacing Ernesto Valverde.
Barcelona rolled back to the years of Pep Guardiola’s tiki-taka, as they culminated the game with 83 percent possession and completed 1005 passes. That said, Granda - playing with 10 men from the 69h minute on - were bulletproof until the 76th minute. Messi gently pushed the ball with his weak foot, finishing what had been a series of fluid, build-up passing.
Setien deployed a nuanced 3-4-3 variation - far from Valverde’s 4-3-3 formation that ended up costing him his job after losing to Atletico Madrid in the Super Copa semifinals.
Players like Sergio Busquets were asked about the distinct styles, but he was candidly opposed to comparing the managers and their philosophies.
“We were a solid team. We had control of the ball. They created little against us,” he told Movistar. “It’s true that we struggled when they dropped deep but, in general terms, the team played a good game.
“It’s not about comparing. Every coach has his style and his way of seeing football. You’ll see what Setien asks us to do. We’re not going to reveal it. We’re delighted with what Ernesto did and we’re delighted with Setien.”
With Real Madrid and Atletico right behind, the defending champions have a long way to go this season. They’ll have to build on the win and, more importantly, further deepen their chemistry under the ex-Real Betis boss. Integrating winter signings into the fold might present itself as a challenge, too.
But one thing is certain: Barcelona can still play like they did back in their glory days. If that sticks, a lot can happen.
Elsewhere in La Liga
Mallorca 4-1 Valencia
Real Betis 3-0 Real Sociedad
Villarreal 1-2 Espanyol
Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Celta Vigo
