Granada 0-4 Barcelona: Messi and Griezmann fire Koeman's side to win
Messi and Griezmann scored two each as Barça made it eight unbeaten in the league
Barcelona made it three away wins in a week with a thumping 4-0 win at Granada on Saturday with two goals apiece for Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann scored either side of a Messi brace as Barça stretched their unbeaten run in the league to eight games and returned to third in the table.
Ronald Koeman's side remain four points behind Atletico Madrid, who have three games in hand, but the Dutch coach finally seems to have found a system that fits his players.
Pedri and Frenkie de Jong ahead of Sergio Busquets adds a threat from midfield, while Ousmane Dembele brings width in attack.
The goals on Saturday came from Messi and Griezmann. Messi now has 11 in La Liga this season and is the outright Pichichi, while Griezmann appears to be finding his form at a good time.
Barça even recovered from the setback of losing Ronald Araujo to injury before the game, with Samuel Umtiti coming in at the last minute to partner Oscar Mingueza, who had replaced the suspended Clement Lenglet.
Against a weakened back four, Granada looked to start quickly. Marc-Andre ter Stegen was forced into an early save by Antonio Puertas.
Barça took the lead in the 12th minute through Griezmann. The flag initially went up for offside but Roberto Soldado had turned Sergio Busquets, intended for the left wing, into Griezmann's path, so he was on.
Griezmann set up Barça's second in the 35th minute, passing to Messi who curled home from 12 yards.
Messi then made it 3-0 before the break, striking a free-kick into the bottom corner -- it was his first goal from a free-kick this season.
The scoring was completed after the hour mark when Griezmann's touch and finish from a tight angle were brilliant after a lofted pass from Ousmane Dembele.
Granada were reduced to 10-men late on when Jesus Vallejo brought down Martin Braithwaite, who had been fed by fellow substitute Riqui Puig.
Barça now break from league action to focus on the Spanish Super Cup, with a game against Real Sociedad to come in midweek and a potential final, against Real Madrid or Athletic Club, next Sunday.
