Domingos Duarte gave an early lead to Granada but Barcelona equalized through Ronald Araujo's 90th minute header.
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Barcelona saved themselves from losing a point at the ongoing La Liga. Barcelona needed an equalizer from make-shift forward Ronald Araujo at Camp Nou on Monday to earn a point against Granada. The visitors took an early lead through Domingos Duarte and then defended pretty well till the final minute of normal time.
Within two minutes of kick-off, Granada stunned the home fans through Duarte’s goal. Sergio Escudero’s cross from the left side was headed in by the Portuguese center-back at the far post. Jorge Molina went close to extending the lead, but his attempt from inside the box went over the bar.
At the other end, Sergio Roberto was denied by the crossbar. Although, after the goal, Granada went on the defensive mode, they threatened the opposition goal through counter-attacks. Monchu’s long ranger was saved by Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Towards the final minute of the first half, Araujo and Sergino Dest tested Granada custodian Luis Maximiano. Araujo’s header from Memphis Depay’s free-kick forced a full-stretch save from Maximiano. Dest’s attempt was parried away by the 22-year-old Portuguese custodian.
On the other hand, it was yet another poor display from the home side after being thrashed 3-0 by Bayern Munich in the mid-week Champions League fixture. The pressure continues to mount on head coach Ronald Koeman and he “won’t answer any more questions about the future”.
On the hour-mark, the ball fell to a running Depay inside the box, but his attempt went over as he couldn’t adjust his body to keep the ball down. The second half was all about Barca’s attack versus Granada’s defense. Koeman had brought in Luuk De Jong and Gerard Pique and the tactics were pretty clear, putting the cross in for the big men.
Central defenders Pique and Arujo were playing as the make-shift strikers. Eleven minutes from time, De Jong’s header from close range went over the bar. Just when it looked like Granada could get their second win at the Camp Nou, Barcelona was rewarded for its relentless pressure. Araujo headed in from Paez Gaviria’s cross to level in the nick of time.
The 22-year-old Uruguayan centre-back was the best player for Barcelona on the night, not as a defender but for his attacking prowess. He was consistently getting at the end of crosses and testing the goalkeeper. In total, Koeman’s side sent over a remarkable 45 open-play crosses in the game.
“We changed our style a little bit,” Koeman said. “If you see the list of players, what do you do? Play tiki-taka? Tiki-taka when there are no spaces?
“We did what we had to do. We tried to win another way. We don’t have players one-on-one or with speed. We’re talking… I’m not going to say more because it seems I have to argue about everything.”
The draw leaves Barcelona at seventh spot in the points table with eight points from four games. Granada are still searching for their first win of the season, they are in the 17th spot with three points from five games.
Koeman’s side will next play away to Cadiz on Friday before hosting Levante on Sunday.
