BARCELONA, Jan 10: Barcelona is slowly showing signs this season might not be a wash after all.
Antoine Griezmann scored a brace and set up Lionel Messi for one of the Argentine’s two goals on Saturday to lead Barcelona to a 4-0 win at Granada.
Barcelona’s first three-match winning run in the league under Ronald Koeman put it four points behind leader Atlético Madrid.
Atlético’s home game scheduled for Saturday against Athletic Bilbao was postponed due to a blizzard that has shut down the capital and made transit almost impossible through much of central Spain.
“Our situation is still complicated, but the team is betting better. We have had three games on the road and won all three,” Koeman said.
“We are more focused from the start of the games now, and when we are focused and move the ball with pace, there are few teams that can control us.”
Second-placed Real Madrid was one point behind Atlético after being held at Osasuna to 0-0 in a match played in steady snowfall and with barely any scoring chances for either side.
Atlético has three more games to play than its top title rivals.
Snowy setback
Madrid’s only decent chance to breaking down Osasuna’s disciplined defense was Marco Asensio’s shot from distance early in the second half that goalie Sergio Herrera did well to parry.
Osasuna used heat lamps to melt snow and ice off the turf and deployed a platoon of workers to shovel the field before the match, leaving only a dusting of snow.
Toni Kroos said the wintry conditions “are not an excuse since both teams played on the same pitch.”
But Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said the match should have been postponed given the travel difficulties.
Madrid’s plane was delayed for several hours at the capital’s airport on Friday before taking off. The airport closed down shortly after and will remain shut until Sunday at least.
“We were waiting yesterday (in the plane), and again today we had to wait, but at the end they decided to play,” Zidane said.
En-Nesyri hat trick
Youssef En-Nesyri scored a hat trick for Sevilla to beat Real Sociedad 3-2 in a thriller that featured four goals in the opening quarter of an hour.
Sevilla drew level on points in the standings with Real Sociedad, which was ahead on goal difference in fifth place.
Sevilla, in sixth, also has three games in hand.
En-Nesyri’s second goal in the seventh minute was the best, a work of beauty.
The Morocco striker dribbled past three defenders before beating the Sociedad goalkeeper with a low strike. (AP)
