Can Barcelona make it five in a row?

Barcelona play host to the Andalusian side Granada on Saturday with a view of winning five matches in a row.

The Catalans will be without their captain Carlos Puyol on saturday. To add more fuel to the fire, Shakira’s boyfriend sustained an injury three days prior to the match adding pressure to Tito Vilanova. Without a doubt, Javier Mascherano would feature for the Catalan giants but nobody knows who would pair him at the midfield. Tito Vilanova might give opportunity to a youngster or transform Alexandre Song into a centre back on Saturday. Although Song is reliable as a defender, the Cameroon international had not featured as a defender for his former club Arsenal not to mention a very few matches.

It was against this side that Lionel Messi surpassed Cesar Rodriguez’s club record of 232 goals in a 5-3 victory. After the promotion to the Spain’s top division, Granada have lost both matches against Barcelona that includes a 0-1 defeat at home. Granada and FC Barcelona have played 2 games up to today.
These teams have scored an average of 4.5 goals per match.

League leaders Barcelona have won all the four opening games this season while the Andalusian side are dropped to the relegation zone having lost two matches and drawn two. Meanwhile Real Madrid are dropped to the bottom half of the table having won just one of their four matches. Malaga are placed second in the table who are unbeaten for time-being.

Granada’s form looks untidy as they haven’t won a single game in six while the Catalan giants lost just one in six. Barcelona’s last League game ended 4-1 to Barcelona against Getafe while Granada’s last game ended 1-1 against Deportivo La Coruña.

Probable line-up: 

Valdes; Alves, Song, Mascherano, Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas; Tello, Messi, Sanchez