La Liga: Messi Makes His Return For Barca

Granada vs Barcelona

Lionel Messi is set to make his much-awaited return as the defending champions Barcelona are taking their act on the road against Granada at the Nuevo Estadio de Los Carmenes this Sunday.

After missing four La Liga games due to a lingering calf injury, the Argentinean superstar returned to action last Tuesday during their Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund where it ended in a draw.

He may not have made much impact during that game since he was probably trying to get his legs underneath him at the time. However, now at full strength, he is expected to carry Barca’s attack while adding on to some of the best La Liga 2019 highlights.

Granada, on the other hand, have been on a tear since being promoted once again to top-flight status. They are currently sixth in the table just behind Barca with seven points.

A home win against the defending champions would definitely leave a lasting impression not only for their avid supporters but for the rest of the competition as well.

SBOBET fans can’t wait to see a healthy Messi back again, and we are here to bring you a sneak peek on the match ahead.

Talking Points

Messi to save the day for Barca

The defending champions have had a modest start to their 2019/20 campaign – winning two, drawing one, and losing one to gather seven points at the fifth spot heading into the fifth match day. It wasn’t really smooth sailing from the get-go for Barca, which is why getting their players healthy is a must for them to complete their three-peat.

Of course the return of Messi will bring back smiles of the fans over at Camp Nou, but let’s not forget that Luis Suarez is going to be back as well.

Griezmann to play alongside Messi and Suarez against Granada in La Liga — Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann controls the ball in front Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro during the Champions League group stage match

The said duo will bolster their attack that has been admirably led by Antoine Griezmann over their last few fixtures. The 28-year-old wunderkind has been rounding into form and is expected to continue to light up the La Liga given his inspired play recently with his two goals and two assists.

Ernesto Valverde’s side will also have Ousmane Dembele available to shore up the middle, while the likes of Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, and Frenkie de Jong are expected to be in the starting XI.

We still have a long way to go in this season and it’s about time for the real Barca to show up!

Granada still a work in progress

El Grana have been making huge strides over the past year. After being unceremoniously relegated at the end of the 2016/17 season, they found their way back to top-flight after finishing second place in the Segunda.

Diego Martinez seems to have struck gold after getting his big break with Osasuna in the 2017/18 term, and he hopes to continue the same trend this time with Granada.

During transfers, Granada signed the likes of Yangel Herrera, Roberto Soldado, and Darwin Machis to bolster their roster. The trio is said to bring quality, smarts, and leadership for their attack this season.

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Another key player to watch out for is their top playmaker Alvaro Vadillo. The 24-year-old forward poured in 11 assists in the Segunda last term and he looks to be fitter than ever, and that’s a great sign especially with his injury history.

This team hasn’t been tested yet over these past few weeks, and perhaps a date with Barcelona would be a fitting challenge for them. Even with low La Liga 2019 odds of beating the defending champions in this match, expect the Diego Martinez-coached squad to try and give them a run for their money.

Fighting for survival looks to be the main objective for El Grana. However, their excellent pre-season and recent form suggests that they could fight for something more.

History

This has been a one-sided matchup for the most part with Barcelona winning against Granada in 11 of their last 12 matches.

El Grana’s last victory over Barca was back in April 2014 with a 1-0 victory. That surprise loss caused the Catalan juggernauts to lose their title to the hands of Atletico Madrid.

Betting Tip

	Granada vs Barcelona	Barcelona 1×2 @1.31
	September 22, 03:00 (GMT+8)

For this fixture, Barcelona are at 1.31 odds to win in the 1×2 market. Granada are set at 10.00 while chances for a draw are at 4.90.

El Grana should be commended for their fine form recently, but keep in mind that facing a team like Barcelona is a whole different animal.

Expect Barca to come out firing on all cylinders with a much healthier squad and it’s unfortunate that Granada have drawn the short straw on this one.