Barcelona we have the chance to gain ground on rivals when they visit Granada at home ..

Luis Suarez: On target in win at Manchester City

Second-placed Barcelona have the chance to gain ground on their rivals when they visit lowly Granada on Saturday.

Following last week's stunning home defeat by Malaga, a result which broke an 11-game winning run, Luis Enrique's side responded by beating Manchester City 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League tie in Manchester on Tuesday.

On Saturday they will face a side with just one win under their belts in 15, but on the eve of the game Enrique rejected the idea that it will be an easy three points for Barcelona.   

Joe Hart saved a penalty from Lionel Messi in the dying moments of the first leg against Barcelona

"Sometimes a tough game turns out to be not so difficult. And sometimes it's the other way round," Enrique said

"We expect to meet opposition in desperate need of points and they will make things difficult for us. They have done the same to us during the past few seasons.

“At this time of the season, teams in need of points in order to avoid relegation tend to get desperate. They will be tough."               

Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique refused to condemn Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué for attending a casino, hours before Barcelona flew to England

Barcelona have won six of the last seven meetings between the teams and at the Nou Camp in September Neymar scored a hat-trick and Messi scored twice in a 6-0 thrashing.

However, in the corresponding fixture last season, Granada won 1-0.

Team news

Gerard Pique misses the match through suspension, meaning that summer signing Mathieu is likely to step up.

Guillem Balague said that Malaga boss Javi Gracia executed a perfect game plan is his side’s win against Barcelona

Thomas Vermaelen remains in the recovery room, while Saturday’s clash comes too early for Douglas.

Granada are seriously struggling and will be missing some key players with top scorer Youssuf El Arabi as well as new signing Adrian Colunga both suspended after receiving red cards in their disastrous late defeat at Levante on Monday.