Granada CF vs Barcelona preview - Martino wants Barca response

Posted Friday, April 11, 2014 by PA

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has urged his team to put their Champions League elimination behind them and concentrate on the two titles they can still win this season.

A 1-0 second-leg defeat at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday saw Atletico Madrid win the quarter-final 2-1 on aggregate, and meant the Catalan club failed to reach the semi-finals of Europe's premier club competition for the first time in seven years.

But there is still plenty to play for this term, with Barca one point adrift of Primera Division leaders Atletico and due to face Real Madrid next Wednesday in the Copa del Rey final.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Granada, Martino said: "This team knows what 's at stake in Granada.

"We must win the remaining six (league) games of the season, regardless of the name of the rival.

"They are separate competitions. Defeat in the Champions League is painful, but we must focus on the league and the cup."

Martino called for Barca to repeat last year's feat of winning La Liga after being knocked out of European competition.

"It has not been an easy year," he said. "The club has experienced many unusual situations, but the team has not lost its way.

"A year ago, the team became champions after losing against Bayern (7-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals). The team knows how to react."

Defender Marc Bartra has not been included in Martino's squad due to a slight thigh problem, with midfielder Ibrahim Afellay the only non-injured player to miss out.

"(Bartra) had some discomfort after training (on Friday morning)," Martino added. "We prefer not to take any risks."

Fifteenth-placed Granada head into the game on the back of last weekend's 4-1 loss at Malaga - a third straight defeat for Lucas Alcaraz's team.

Forward Riki will play no part on Saturday after being ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring tear.

The injury is untimely for Granada, who are just three points above the relegation zone and had only just welcomed back the former Rayo Vallecano man from a muscular injury.

Bryan Angulo will also miss the game after picking up a fifth yellow card last weekend, his place likely to be taken by Dimitri Foulquier, but Recio and Odion Ighalo return after missing the Malaga match through suspension.