Barcelona 1-1 Granada: Player ratings as Ronald Araujo spares Catalan blushes
A last-minute header from Ronald Araujo salvaged a point for Barcelona, as they slumped to a disappointing 1-1 draw with Granada that will only dial up the pressure on manager Ronald Koeman.
Koeman went into the game fighting for his job and although his side created more than enough chances to win, a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping saw them drop two points.
The game got off to a shocking start with Domingos Duarte giving the visitors the lead inside 100 seconds. Sergio Escudero provided the assist, floating a cross to the back post which Duarte nodded home.
Granada continued to look threatening in transition during the opening exchanges and nearly doubled their lead when Jorge Molina volleyed a cross just over the bar. This provided the jolt Barcelona needed and after a promising period of play Sergi Roberto hit the bar with a lobbed effort. Things soon stagnated again though, with Granada carving out the better chances.
On the stroke of half time, Barça enjoyed a small surge with Ronald Araujo forcing a terrific save out of Luis Maximiano with a bullet header.
After the break, the hosts improved with Memphis Depay spurning a couple of half-chances and Araujo again threatening from set pieces. They continued to probe and eventually introduced Gerard Pique as an auxiliary centre-forward.
Finally, the chance of the game fell to Luuk de Jong, but he somehow headed over from a few yards out with just over 10 minutes to play. Thankfully for De Jong, his blushes were spared when Araujo rose high in the box to head home Gavi's cross.
Here are your Barça player ratings from Camp Nou...
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) - 7/10 - Had to make several good saves. These stops kept his side in touching distance.
Sergino Dest (RB) - 5/10 - Sometimes dangerous going forward on the right and also down the left when he was forced to switch sides after Balde's injury. Troubled a couple of times in the other direction.
Ronald Araujo (CB) - 8/10 - A complete menace from set pieces. It was remarkable that one of his headers did not nestle in the back of the net before he grabbed the equaliser. Inspirational display.
Eric Garcia (CB) - 6/10 - Distributed effectively from defence, barely misplacing a pass all evening. Not a great deal of defending required.
Alejandro Balde (LB) - 6/10 - Forced off with a back injury that he appeared to be playing through. His absence leaves Koeman without a natural left-back in the entire squad. What a joke.
2. Midfielders
Sergi Roberto (CM) - 5/10 - Denied a first-half equaliser by the crossbar. Bit of a passenger other than that and was hooked at half time.
Sergio Busquets (CM) - 5/10 - Not one of his best games. His age showed when Granada counter-attacked and he was also pretty wasteful in possession.
Frenkie de Jong (CM) - 6/10 - Lost his man and missed a header for the opening goal. Oops. Involved in a few dangerous moves in the second half.
3. Forwards
Yusuf Demir (RW) - 6/10 - Brave performance. He always wanted the ball and used it better than many of his more experienced and more expensive colleagues.
Memphis Depay (ST) - 6/10 - Missed several good chances but was at the centre of everything good his side did. Not quite the game-changing display Barcelona needed.
Philippe Coutinho (LW) - 5/10 - Disappointing but he is coming back from injury. Still, he looks a million miles away from the player that cost Barcelona that ridiculous transfer fee.
4. Substitutes
Oscar Mingueza - 5/10 - Pretty ropey, but he's not a right-back.
Luuk de Jong - 2/10 - Was like he wasn't playing. 14 touches during his entire 45 minute spell. Missed a sitter too.
Gavi - 5/10 - Full of energy and provided the game-saving assist.
Gerard Pique - 6/10 - Went up front for the closing stages and put himself about.
Riqui Puig - N/A