Barcelona had to rely on Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Claudio Bravo, three of their summer signings, on Saturday to beat Granada and make sure they kept pace with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. The trio provided further proof that the club's former Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta got something right in preseason, despite being sacked by the club in January.

Three points were just what the doctor ordered for Barcelona at Granada, and although the 3-1 win was hard fought, certain players...

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...

Europe's top performers for February were whittled down to a three-man shortlist in consultation with WhoScored.com and ESPN FC's writers.

Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery were those in contention, despite the vociferous protestations from Craig Burley that Bas Dost should've been included for the February award. And, for the second time this season, Barcelona's No. 10 has been named ESPN FC's Player of the Month.

Messi's second victory comes just as his first did: in a landslide. The...

After enduring a tricky start to his Manchester United career, perhaps it is fair that Marcos Rojo celebrated so boisterously as he watched his first professional club, Estudiantes, beat fierce rivals Gimnasia. Quite why he did so while flaunting an FC Barcelona vest is another question ...

The Argentina defender clearly had some pent-up frustration to relieve as he celebrated Ezequiel Cerutti's late penalty in a 3-1 victory for Estudiantes on Sunday. But is his heart really set on a move to Camp...

Diego Costa, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. These were the only three to win the ESPN FC Player of the Month award prior to the month of January, when our poll was overrun by Newcastle supporters and Remy Cabella's name was added to the list. Newcastle's French attacker won't have the chance to repeat, but Messi does have the opportunity to keep the list of recipients a short one.

Europe's top performers in February have been whittled to a three-man short list in consultation with WhoScored.com...

Five thoughts gleaned from La Liga's weekend fixtures, as Real Madrid were held by Villarreal at the Bernabeu, while Barcelona continued to bounce back with a win over Granada, and Atletico were held by European-chasing Sevilla.

1. Isco not an untouchable galactico just yet

Real Madrid remain La Liga leaders after their 1-1 draw at home to Villarreal on Sunday night, but the game again showed how Isco has a ways to go before being confirmed as first choice for coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Pregame praise...