Messi inspires Barcelona comeback victory

Posted on February 17, 2013 by SoccerPunter

Odion Ighalo gave Granada a surprise lead over Barcelona in the first half but it was not enough to secure a victory for the underdogs.

FIFA Footballer of the Year, Lionel Messi, scored his 300th goals for Barcelona in the second half as the Spain Primera Division leaders beat Granada 2-1.

Andres Iniesta was given a day off ahead of Barcelona Champions League match against AC Milan in midweek, whilst Xavi remains on the sidelines due to injury.

Check Spain La Liga match fixtures for today.

But despite being without either of their two midfield metronomes Barca started brightly.

Messi was unsurprisingly to the fore and he slipped in Alexis Sanchez after just five minutes but the Chilean’s heavy touch allowed Tono in the Granada goal to collect.

Thiago then headed over and Messi nearly connected with Cesc Fabregas’ knockdown at the end of a wonderful move as Barce continued to dominate, but they were rocked when Granada took the lead on 26 minutes.

Carlos Aranda’s excellent cross to the back post was knocked back across goal by Guilherme Siqueira and Ighalo couldn’t miss when presented with an open goal five yards out.

Adriano fired just wide and Messi had a free-kick well held by Tono as the visitors instantly went in search of an equaliser, but they were forced into a change before half-time as Jordi Alba came on to replace the injured Adriano.

Aranda was then handed the chance to make it 2-0 before the break as Thiago gifted him the ball from a Barca free-kick but he hesitated before taking on the shot and Victor Valdes made an easy save.

And that was to prove a turning point as it took Barca just five minutes to level the scores after the interval.

Tono could only parry Fabregas’ fierce drive from 20 yards back into the middle of the goal where the grateful Messi was on hand to slot home his landmark goal.

Pedro then hit the post and had a goal rightly ruled out for offside as Granada struggled to contain the wave upon wave of attacks from the visitors and they were finally in front 17 minutes from time.

Messi’s free-kick had just enough power and dip to take it past Tono although the keeper will be disappointed after getting a hand to it.

Cristian Tello should then have sealed all three points as he blasted over from close range and the winger was nearly made to pay for his profligacy as Inigo Lopez and Yacine Brahimi wasted fine chances in the dying minutes to salvage a point for Granada.