La Liga roundup: Messi and Griezmann shine for Barcelona, Real Madrid fail to impress

Messi and Griezmann dazzled to inspire Barcelona to a devastating victory over Granada in La Liga, Youssef En-Nseyri grabs a hattrick in Sevilla win while Osasuna held Real Madrid to a stalemate in the latest round of fixtures.

Sevilla see off Real Sociedad in five-goal thriller

Youssef En-Nseyri was on fire for Sevilla against Real Sociedad this weekend as the Moroccan grabbed a hattrick within 46 minutes to put a resolute Sociedad to the sword.

The game started on an attacking note that saw En-Nseyri score within four minutes but a Diego Carlos own goal one minute later turned the game level.

Then, the star of the contest put Sevilla up again in the 7th minute. The lead did not last as Alexander Isak finished from a Mikel Oyarzabal pass to peg the host back on level terms with just 14 minutes gone.

Youssef En-Nseyri finally got his hattrick and Sevilla’s third of the game as the second half kicked off. Real Sociedad found themselves stuck and unable to get back into the game.

? MATCH REPORT | @ennesyri9 comes to life in #SevillaFCRealSociedad (3-2). ?3?#WeareSevilla #NeverSurrender

- Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) January 9, 2021

The game set the tone for a thrilling La Liga matchday.

Heavy snowing disrupts Atletico game

Atletico Madrid was left frustrated with three games in hand and a tight schedule to boot after heavy snowing in their part of the city caused the match against Athletic Bilbao to be postponed.

Our fixture ? @Athletic_en has been postponed due to the winter snow in Spain.

- Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 9, 2021

Despite having nine points up for grasp, Diego Someone’s side still lead La Liga with one point.

See also: La Liga roundup: Villareal returns to winning ways as Real Madrid go top

Messi and Greizmann destroy Granada

Granada hosted Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga on Saturday, 9 January 2021. After Antoine Greizmann opened the scoring, Messi scored twice to put the Catalonians three goals ahead in the first period.

Granada will have expected to get more favorable decisions from the referee in what became a controversial fixture. However, the players really had no response to Barcelona’s domination of the game from the kick off whistle.

Lionel Messi also scored his first freekick goal since July 2020 with a fierce strike in-between the wall in the 42nd minute.

Greizmann got his brace in the 63rd minutes thanks to a smart pass from fellow French teammate Ousmane Dembele. Ronald Koeman pulled Messi out of the game just after the hour mark to rest the Barcelona point man.

MATCH REP????????RT | #GranadaBarçahttps://t.co/2mFOxRt52N

- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 9, 2021

With the win, Barcelona cements their place in third and prove that they have found their rhythm as well.

Osasuna holds Real Madrid

Real Madrid failed to find a way past a stubborn Osasuna in the last La Liga match of Saturday. The match was largely uneventful with chances limited to two shots on target for both teams.

There was also heavy snowing as well but the game continued thanks to the stadium’s personnel.

Eden Hazard managed to put in 75 minutes on the night for his employers after several weeks on the sideline due to injury.

?? MATCH REPORT | A great #Osasuna scores a point against Real Madrid (0-0).#OsasunaRealMadrid

?? https://t.co/M9VaPPgibh pic.twitter.com/rJfqnoIhvR

- C. A. OSASUNA (@caosasuna_en) January 9, 2021

Madrid failed to capitalise on Atletico’s postponed game to go top of the league in a hugely disappointing fixture.