Summary

  • Barcelona move one point behind Real Madrid

  • Rakitic, Suarez & Messi score for Barca

  • Granada one win in 21 league games

  1. Postpublished at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2015

    It's a beautiful sunny day in Andalusia. The teams are out and we're almost ready for the off.

  2. Elsewhere in Europepublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2015

    Borussia Dortmund v SchalkeImage source, AFP

    Almost half an hour into the games in Germany and we're still awaiting our first goal. The atmosphere at the Borussia Dortmund v Schalke derby is electric. And Dortmund fans have been taunting their rivals by fans showing Schalke's jerseys upside down.

  3. Anyone fancy an upset?published at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2015

    Granada v BarcelonaImage source, Getty Images

    Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has often voiced his concern about facing teams that are battling for survival. And Granada are certainly one of those.

    The Andalusians are four points from safety after just one win in 20 games, but it is only ten months since they dented Barca's title hopes thanks to Algeria midfielder Yacine Brahimi's winner.

    "Sometimes you expect one kind of game and you get another" Enrique said., external "We are up against a side in dire need of points and they'll make things hard for us."

    Anyone fancy an upset?

  4. Postpublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2015

    Marco ReusImage source, AFP

    Still no goals between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke, where home forward Marco Reus has been talking about the significance of the Ruhr derby and what it means to him.

    "Coming from Dortmund, I practically inherited all the knowledge and importance of this derby when I was born," Reus said earlier this week., external "The motto against the Royal Blues is always the same: Run and fight until you drop - losing is forbidden," added the Germany international.

  5. Postpublished at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2015

    Granada v BarcelonaImage source, @FCBarcelona

    Barcelona:, external Against Granada, Jordi Alba is playing his 100th game for Barca.

  6. Elsewhere in Europepublished at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2015

    Schalke head coach Roberto Di MatteoImage source, EPA

    As well as Spain, there's loads of other action happening in Germany and France over the course of the next few hours.

    Five matches are already under way in the Bundesliga - all currently goalless - including a huge derby featuring Roberto Di Matteo's Schalke away to Borussia Dortmund. Schalke will climb up to third in the table with victory.

    And in France, leaders Lyon will go five points clear of second-placed Paris St-Germain with victory at Lille. That game starts at 15:00 GMT and we'll bring you news of all the major action from that and all the other key games.

  7. Postpublished at 14:39 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2015

    Steve Crossman
    BBC World Service football reporter

    "Granada coach Abel Resino is in confident mood ahead of the Barca game. 'I see no reason why we can't win,' he said at his pre match press conference.

    "I can think of three...he's missing two first choice strikers and a defender through suspension. Oh and they're playing Barcelona, so there are four reasons Abel."

  8. Team Newspublished at 14:35 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2015

    Barcelona players training ahead of the game with GranadaImage source, EPA

    Luis Enrique is not messing around. The Barcelona boss has wheeled out his big guns, with Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar all starting.

    Defender Gerard Pique is suspended after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season last week.

    Granada XI: Paredes, Nyom, Babin, Ruiz, Foulquier, Castro, Iturra, Moreno, Bangoura, Cordoba, Castro.

    Barcelona XI: Bravo, Alves, Bartra, Mathieu, Alba, Xavi, Mascherano, Rakitic, Messi, Suarez, Neymar.

  9. Tough at the toppublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2015

    La Liga tableImage source, Other

    "Given our situation in the league, only a win is good for us." So says Barcelona boss Luis Enrique ahead of his team's game with next-to-bottom Granada.

    The defeat to Malaga means it is advantage Real Madrid in the Spanish title race. But with Carlo Ancelotti's leaders not in action until Sunday, when they entertain Villarreal, Barca have the opportunity to close the gap to one point.

    The phrase "must-win" gets bandied about like confetti. But this really is a game Barca dare not drop any points.

  10. Flying in Europe, playing catch-up in Spainpublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2015

    Barcelona defender Gerard PiqueImage source, EPA

    After a successful midweek Champions League mission in Manchester, you might have thought all was well at the Nou Camp. You might have assumed Barcelona were entering a critical stage of the season at the very top of their game. You might have imagined managed Luis Enrique to be full of smiles ahead of a busy and defining March.

    Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

    The scars left behind by last week's surprise 1-0 home defeat to Malaga have not gone away. One glance at the La Liga table tells its own story. Barca might be flying in Europe, but the Catalans are playing catch up in Spain.