GRANADA, Spain -- Three quick thoughts from Barcelona's 3-1 win over Granada in La Liga at the Nuevo Los Carmenes on Saturday.

1. Barcelona tough it out

Barcelona were far from their fluid best here, but goals from Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were enough to get three valuable points, with Granada's reply coming from a second-half Javi Marquez penalty.

Barca had warning of how difficult it can be coming to the Nuevo Los Carmenes, where Granada were unbeaten in six games since...

MANCHESTER, England -- Three thoughts on Manchester United's 2-0 win vs. Sunderland in the Premier League.

1. United labour to another win

It was yet another day when all would seem perfect at Manchester United if you looked just at the result and avoided the actual performance. There remains this deep disconnect between the two, as well as the feeling that it has to snap at some point.

At the same time, it is to their huge credit that they keep persevering, keep going and keep staying in those Champions...

Three thoughts from Tottenham's 2-0 defeat and Europa League elimination at the hands of Fiorentina on Thursday night in Italy.

1. Tottenham implode in Florence

Tottenham had more than enough possession and chances over the course of their two matches against Fiorentina to make it through to the last 16 of the Europa League, but glaring errors at both ends of the field proved costly for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

Fiorentina

Tottenham Hotspur

2

0

FT

Leg 2Aggregate: 3 - 1

Game Details

Highlights

• GameCast
• Lineups and Stats

Fiorentina were welcome recipients of gifts from their opponents on a night...

LONDON -- Three quick points from Arsenal's stunning 3-1 defeat to Monaco in their Champions League round of 16 first-leg clash at the Emirates.

1. Monaco humiliate Arsenal

A club that holds great memories for Arsene Wenger dealt him what looks like a fatal blow. Monaco made themselves completely comfortable in the Emirates with a composed, professional display beyond that of harried and misfiring Arsenal. It was a familiar North London foe in Dimitar Berbatov who scored what looks a crucial...

MANCHESTER, England -- For weeks he's been providing the service. On Tuesday, he suddenly provided the goals.

He arrived as the guy with the bad reputation, banned for another bite, following a previous suspension for racial abuse.

But Luis Suarez has been playing at Barcelona not only as if, just as he promised, it's been his personal ambition to do so for years and years but also as if he's a fan of the club.

Manchester City

Barcelona

1

2

FT

Leg 1

Game Details

Highlights

• GameCast
• Lineups and Stats

He's brought blood, sweat and tears, albeit fewer goals than most believed was his initial...

MANCHESTER, England -- The agony the Champions League annually brings to Manchester City was only partly eased by the sight of Lionel Messi having his injury-time penalty saved by Joe Hart and his header of the rebound sliding by the post.

There were smiles among those home fans who had stayed behind. A moment of levity, perhaps even a glimmer of a chance for the second leg, but not one to disguise that at this level, in this competition, City again look short of the quality required to progress...