Barcelona leaves it late against Granada

Barcelona, Spain – Barcelona left it late but dramatically preserved its unblemished start to the La Liga season by earning a 2-0 win over Granada at Camp Nou on Saturday.

The Catalans dominated much of the open play on the night but failed to break through until the late stages.

Granada goalkeeper Tono was superb throughout the course of the game as he produced several key saves to deny Barcelona, but he was helpless to stop Xavi's game-winner in the 87th minute.

A failed clearance fell to the midfield maestro at the top of the box. He was able to take a touch before quickly firing a shot with the outside of his right foot that hit the underside of the crossbar on its way into the back of the net.

An own goal from Borja Gomez in second-half stoppage time put the result beyond any doubt, handing Barcelona its fifth win from as many games this season.

Granada has managed just two points from its first five games to remain in the relegation zone on two points.

Real Zaragoza 3, Osasuna 1

Aragon, Spain - Real Zaragoza avoided a third straight defeat on Saturday by claiming a 3-1 win over last-place Osasuna at the Estadio La Romareda.

Helder Postiga got the home side off to a dream start with a goal inside four minutes. Emiliano Armenteros pulled one back for Osasuna 25 minutes later, but an own goal from David Timor and a penalty from Apono lifted Zaragoza to its first defeat of Osasuna in five years.

Real Zaragoza has claimed six points on the season while Osasuna has managed just one point from its opening five games.

Celta Vigo 2, Getafe 1

Vigo, Spain - Second-half substitute Park Chu-Young made an immediate impact at the Municipal on Saturday, coming on at the 66-minute mark and providing the game-winning goal shortly after in Celta Vigo's 2-1 defeat of Getafe.

Augusto Fernandez opened the scoring for the home side in the 57th minute before Abdelaziz Barrada evened things up for Getafe two minutes later.

But Park sealed all three points in the 68th minute, converting at the back post off of a cross from Michael Krohn-Dehli to lift Celta Vigo to its second win in its last three games.

Getafe has lost two in a row to stay put on four points through five games.

Real Betis 1, Espanyol 0

Seville, Spain - Paulao scored 18 minutes in at the Benito Villamarin to power Real Betis to a 1-0 victory over lowly Espanyol on Saturday.

Real Betis has claimed three wins from its opening three matches to climb into third place in La Liga on nine points.

Espanyol has lost four of its first five games to remain tied with Osasuna for last place on a point apiece.