Belgian Pro League

Remember Alex McLeish?

Four years ago this weekend the Scot was masterminding Birmingham City's 2-1 League Cup final triumph over much-fancied Arsenal at Wembley.

Image source, Getty Images

Now the 56-year-old is earning his living in Belgium. McLeish took charge of Genk last August and his side could climb up into sixth spot in the table if they win at bottom of the table Lierse later (19:00 GMT).

A reminder that if it stays like this then Barcelona will move one point behind leaders Real Madrid, who entertain Villarreal on Sunday.

German Bundesliga

It's still goalless in the Dortmund-Schalke derby with just over 20 minutes remaining. But there are goals elsewhere in the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim have taken the lead at home to Mainz, while Stuttgart have the breakthrough at Hannover. Bayer Leverkusen still lead Freiburg 1-0.

Granada are not out of this. Javi Marquez unleashes a left-foot attempt from 20-yards that flashes narrowly wide. Good pressure from the struggling hosts but they trail at the interval thanks to Ivan Rakitic's effort.

Dimitri Foulquier goes to ground under Marc Bartra's challenge in the Barcelona area. The big Frenchman is looking for it though and the referee waves away the home team's appeals. Granada have been full of industry here and will rue that lapse in concentration which allowed Luis Suarez to run clear and create the only goal.

German Bundesliga

Five Bundesliga games have produced just one first-half goal in total. Simon Rolfes has given Bayer Leverkusen the lead against Freiburg with all the other fixtures, including Borussia Dortmund against Schalke, goalless.

A Dortmund win would see them reduce the gap to the Champions-League chasing teams to seven points. Not bad when you consider the awful start Jurgen Klopp's side had to the season.

Barcelona want this wrapped up before the interval. Lionel Messi takes aim from the edge of the area but his effort flies over.

Steve Crossman
BBC World Service football reporter

"That's the fourth time Ivan Rakitic has scored in the league since joining Barcelona in the summer. Their results in those games have been 5-0, 6-0 and 5-1 wins and one of those was the reverse fixture against Granada.

"Little bit of luck with the deflection that saw the ball drop perfectly for him but Luis Enrique won't care, just what Barca needed."

Image source, AFP

Leaders Lyon still lead 1-0 at Lille in France thanks to Corentin Tolisso's early goal. A win would send Lyon five points clear of second-placed Paris St-Germain, but there's a long way to go with another 10 minutes or so remaining in the first half.

Image source, AFP

Easy tap-in for Ivan Rakitic as Cala makes an awful hash of clearing Luis Suarez's ball across the face of the six-yard area. A gift for Barca. One they are grateful to receive.

Image source, AFP

First shot of anger from Barcelona. And it's taken 23 minutes. Skipper Xavi lets fly from the edge of the area but Granada's keeper tips his effort over the bar. Barca are starting to warm up.

Lionel Messi is not just Barca's goal-getter this season. He has more assists in La Liga than any of his team-mates with 10. Only a certain player at Real Madrid has more...you guessed it, Cristiano Ronaldo has 13.

A tangle on the half way line between Luis Suarez and Cala results in a deserved yellow card for the Barcelona forward. Suarez can have few complaints after his arm struck Cala in the face while trying to shake his opponent off.

Image source, Getty Images

Roberto Di Matteo always loved a good derby in his playing days but the Schalke boss looks frustrated during the local showdown at Borussia Dortmund. It's still goalless there with half-time approaching. Bayer Leverkusen have taken a 1-0 lead against Freiburg.

A shot from distance by Javier Mascherano is easily saved. Granada will be pleased with their start, with Colombian forward Jhon Cordoba causing one or two early problems.

French Ligue 1

A huge goal in France where leaders Lyon have taken the lead at Lille in the 15:00 GMT kick-off, Corentin Tolisso with the early breakthrough.

Barcelona - associated with their dominance - have had to be patient this season and win games in the second half. As the above table shows, if results had been taken at half time, their league hopes would be pretty much over.

Real Madrid are by some way La Liga's fastest starters.

A nasty tangle between Javi Marquez and Dani Alves results in a lengthy delay, blood on the Barcelona player's shirt and a yellow card for the Granada player.

It's all systems go. Barcelona are in their bright yellow kit. Anyone got a spare pair of sunglasses?