Xavi Hernandez sets up Barcelona win

Substitute Xavi Hernandez scored a late goal to set Barcelona on their way to a 2-0 win over Granada which maintained their perfect start and sent them 11 points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid. The Catalan side have now picked up a maximum 15 points from their opening five games. But for most of Saturday’s match they looked off-colour and appeared to be heading for a draw until Xavi’s goal four minutes from the end which was then followed by an own-goal from Borja Gomez. It was tough luck on Granada goalkeeper Tono Rodriguez who had produced some excellent saves, but in the end he was helpless to stop Xavi’s strike from the edge of the area which went in off the crossbar. Granada coach Juan Antonio Anquela looked to take the positives from the game rather than the result. The result now puts the pressure on Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid side who face city rivals Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. Barca had Alex Song alongside Javier Mascherano in a makeshift defence with Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique both in the treatment room while the in-form Adriano Correia continued at left back despite Jordi Alba being ready to return. Granada have struggled so far this season but surprisingly they enjoyed plenty of possession early on. Floro Flores took advantage of a misunderstanding between Song and Mascherano but shot weakly at keeper Victor Valdes after eight minutes and then Mikel Rico fired over from inside the area. Barca had rested Xavi and with Andres Iniesta also out injured they were unable to play their usual flowing football and were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply. Granada have been lacking organisation and discipline at the back but they found a new resolve with Barca unable to get a shot on target until midway through the first half with a Cesc Fabregas strike comfortable for Tono. Granada then went close again when Siqueira skipped down the left wing and forced a good save from Valdes who tipped the ball behind for a corner. Earlier, Park Chu-Young became the first Korean to score in the Spanish league when he came off the bench to give Celta Vigo a 2-1 win over Getafe. Augusto Fernandez hit Celta’s opener with Abdelaziz Barrada equalising. Zaragoza beat Osasuna 3-1 through goals from Helder Postiga, David Timor, who put through his own net, and Apono, with a penalty. Emiliano Armenteros got the visitors’ consolation.