Barcelona 4-0 Granada: Five Talking Points

The Catalan giants continued their impressive formBarcelona's first home league game of the season could not have transpired any better as they beat visiting Granada 4-0 in a typical Barcelona fashion. Having drawn away at Espanyol last week, this was a must game win for the hosts with Atletico Madrid breathing right down their necks. This game also marked satisfactory league debuts for the new boys, Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal.Barcelona dominated the game from the start, with Messi already having scored twice within the first 15 minutes. There were a few other great chances in the first half itself, which Barcelona failed to convert. Granada started the second half strong before Lionel Messi scored another to seal the game. Granada did call Bravo to action a couple of times late in the game, but it was Neymar who ended up scoring on the other side of the field to set the final scoreline at 4-0.Here are the major talking points from the game.

#1 Messi bags another Hat-trick

Messi is now the first player to score two or more hat-tricks against eight different teams

While the game might have been special for some of the players, it was just your normal walk in the park for Messi. Another day, another hat-trick. The Barcelona talisman opened up the scoring as early as the eighth minute. Only seven more minutes of play and Messi had already doubled the lead. He got his third in the second half when the ball bounced off the post from a Neymar shot.

With this hat-trick, Messi has now become the first player to score two or more hat-tricks against eight different teams! This performance only comes two days after he scored two and assisted another two against local rivals Espanyol in the Copa Del Rey round of 16 game. This unquestionably has been a wonderful start of the year for the all important Barcelona man and one can argue that there is little or no doubt regarding who is going to bag the Ballon d’Or later this week!

#2 Perfect debut for Vidal and Turan

Vidal and Turan made their La Liga debuts for Barcelona

After having waited out for six long months, summer signings Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal finally got the chance to flex their muscles in a league game. Both players had been signed in the summer transfer window from La Liga sides Atletico Madrid and Sevilla respectively but hadn’t been able to play because of the transfer ban that had been imposed on Barcelona by FIFA.

Either of them couldn’t have asked for a better first game with their new family. Both were a part of the starting lineup for the game, which ended in Barcelona’s favor in a definitive manner. They both had a decent game and things are looking all set for the future months.

Arda Turan was the better player of the two. He had a great game and the way he played, it certainly felt like that he had been a part of this squad for a long time. He ended up providing an assist to Messi for the opening goal and pulled off some other great moves, making this quite a memorable game for him.

#3 Barcelona field new look midfield

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With the transfer ban over, Barcelona finally have the freedom to sign whoever they want. Though they haven’t signed anybody this window yet, Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal have been registered along with many other youth players. This has brought the much-needed depth to the squad, especially the midfield.

Equipped with a reinvigorated arsenal, Luis Enrique fielded a completely new look midfield comprising of Arda Turan, Ivan Rakitic and Sergi Roberto. And surprisingly, it worked very well. While Iniesta and Busquets are undoubtedly class apart, their absence was never felt at any point of time in the whole game. Roberto and Rakitic were exceptional, as they have been all this season. Turan wasn’t bad either and fitted right in like a natural. This was seemingly a more attack minded midfield trio than the one Enrique usually opts for.

These new signings have made available a large list of players for Enrique to choose from, and who all cement their spot in the starting lineup only remains to be seen.

#4 Goals that could have been

Barcelona missed quite a few chances

While the scoreline reads a solid 4-0, it doesn’t narrate the whole story. There were many chances missed which could have been easily converted to goals. The scoreline could have much different. Barcelona were a bit messy in the box and failed to deliver the finishing touch on many occasions. This wouldn’t be much of a problem if it was just this game but sadly, this has been a major issue this season. While there have been goals, there also have been misses.

The highlight was Suarez missing out on an almost open goal, after already having beaten the goalkeeper. Suarez had also missed a sitter in the last league game against Espanyol. Suarez might be in great form, being the joint top scorer of the league and all but he certainly needs to work a bit on his finishing. While it hasn’t mattered much yet, it might end up doing so when Barcelona play in the final stages of the Champions League in the coming months.

#5 Neymar\'s immense improvement

Neymar was a constant threat for Granada

Apart from Messi, another player who was exceptional was the Brazilian magician Neymar himself. Flashback one year ago to the start of 2015, it is crystal clear that he has been the most improved player in the squad, if not in the world. And he has a Ballon d’Or nomination to show for it.

He had a phenomenal game yet again and played an instrumental role in the victory. The fact that he was on the scoresheet aside, he created many chances and was a constant threat to the Granada defense. There were some insane first touches and flashes of brilliance. Overall, he was a treat to watch. He might have overdone the showboating a little bit though and the Granada players’ frustration was clearly visible.

Given the form he is in, one should not be surprised if this youngster ends up bagging the second position at the Ballon d’Or gala.