Barcelona: Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas both earned and converted penalties to help injury-battered Barcelona to a 4-0 win at home over 10-man Granada on Saturday.
Injured Lionel Messi watched from the sidelines at Camp Nou as the pair of Spain midfielders took turns drawing fouls from Granada's overly aggressive defenders, before letting the other score the spot kick.
Iniesta slotted in Barcelona's first goal in the 20th minute before Fabregas made it 2-0 in the 40th.
Granada played a man down from the 66th after Manuel Iturra received his second booking. Alexis Sanchez scored five minutes later before Pedro Rodriguez capped Barcelona's victory in the 90th.
The win provisionally moved Barcelona six points clear of second-place Atletico Madrid and nine points ahead of Real Madrid before the title rivals play games later Saturday.
This was Barcelona's first match since learning that a left hamstring tear will keep Messi sidelined probably until January.
It was also without playmaker Xavi Hernandez, goalkeeper Victor Valdes, defenders Dani Alves and Jordi Alba, and backup forward Cristian Tello, all due to injury.
"We had gotten to this point more or less intact," Iniesta told GOL TV. "The calendar is what it is. Those of us who are left have to take care of ourselves. When we reach April or May it will be a question of having everyone doing their part."
Even so, it didn't look like Barcelona was missing five of its first-choice players.
Coach Gerardo Martino now has more arguments to silence critics in Barcelona who complain his team has lost some of the flair displayed under former managers Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova.
Barcelona dominated a Granada side that had only lost once away this season to remain unbeaten with a league record of 13 wins and one draw.
Iniesta got Barcelona rolling by driving his spot kick low and inside the right post after Fabregas was knocked down by Dimitri Foulquier while dribbling into the area.
Fabregas then took his turn to blast the ball into the top right corner following Fran Rico's foul of Iniesta near the edge of the box.
Barcelona replacement goalkeeper Jose Pinto got his chance in the 71st when he beat Allan Nyom one-on-one, starting a counterattack that finished with Neymar passing for Alexis to equal Messi as Barcelona's leading scorer in the league this season with eight goals.
Fabregas set up Pedro for his seventh goal of the league campaign.
Barcelona visits Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday, looking to seal its place in the knockout rounds.
Real Sociedad hosts Celta Vigo later Saturday before Atletico hosts Getafe and Madrid visits Almeria.####
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