La Liga wrap: Barca win, Sevilla snatch late draw

Barcelona earned a 1-0 victory away to promoted Granada in La Liga on Tuesday, while Sevilla snatched a draw against Racing Santander.

Spain international Xavi was the hero for Barcelona in Andalusia, scoring the winning goal with a free-kick in the 32nd minute at Estadio Los Carmenes.

It was a record-breaking 392nd Barca appearance for Xavi, and the midfielder’s contribution proved decisive in sending the reigning champions back to the top of the league.

Granada played much of the second half a man down, after midfielder Jaime Romero Gomez picked up a second yellow card for a high challenge on 54 minutes.

And they finished with only nine men following Daniel Benitez’s dismissal for a second bookable in stoppage time.

Also on Tuesday, Sevilla gave up a 1-0 lead and looked set to hand Racing Santander their first victory of the season, before snatching an equaliser two minutes into injury time.

Striker Manu put Sevilla in front 37 minutes into the match at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Argentine forward Ariel Nahuelpan levelled for Racing just past the hour mark, and seven minutes later winger Jairo Samperio made it 2-1 to the away side.

Racing sat bottom of the table and without a victory after eight matches heading into Tuesday’s game.

Still leading and with time fast running out, they must have thought they were about to break their winless streak, but Manu had other ideas, notching a 92nd-minute equaliser that was cruel on the struggling visitors.

The result leaves Sevilla in fourth, while Racing remain one point behind Getafe in the relegation zone.