BARCELONA: Less than a week after a demoralising loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Barcelona faltered at Camp Nou again, being held by winless Granada 1-1 in La Liga on Monday, needing defender Ronald Araujo’s last minute header to rescue a point.

The setback followed the 3-0 rout by Bayern in the team’s first defeat since losing Lionel Messi to Paris St Germain, and added pressure on coach Ronald Koeman and club president Joan Laporta.

Granada came to Barcelona winless in four matches and coming off two consecutive losses, including at home against Real Betis in the Andalucia derby last week.

“It’s a shame,” Araujo said. “If we had been able to score earlier we could have gotten the victory. After the early goal they sat back on defence and that made it difficult for us.”

With only 27,000 out of a possible 40,000 fans inside the ground, those in attendance were stunned into silence after 85 seconds as Domingos Duarte rose at the back post to head in Sergio Escudero’s centre.

Sergi Roberto struck the post with a volley midway through the first half as Barca huffed and puffed to get back into the game.

Araujo forced Luis Maximiano into a full-length stop on the stroke of halftime as the Catalans resorted to hoofing the ball into the box, racking up 54 crosses in total during the 90 minutes.

Koeman introduced striker Luuk de Jong at the break to act as target man and he was joined up top by centre-half Gerard Pique 15 minutes from time as the hosts grew increasingly desperate.

De Jong somehow contrived to miss from close range as it appeared it was going to be another frustrating night for Barca.

However Araujo’s header rescued a point in the final minute of normal time from 17-year-old substitute Gavi’s cross.

The result leaves Barca in seventh place on eight points from four matches, five behind leaders Real Madrid who have played a game more.

“They [Granada] wasted time from as soon as they scored,” bemoaned Koeman as he defended his direct tactics after being accused of betraying Barca’s attacking traditions.

“There wasn’t a lot of space to play short, delicate balls as they defended with every man back. There was space on the wings to cross, and we had tall players in there and that’s what we did. At least we managed to get a draw, even if we have dropped two points.”

Granada are in 17th spot on three points from five matches.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2021