( CNN ) Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez combined to ensure Barcelona returned to winning La Liga ways by overcoming lowly Granada 3-1 Saturday on a far from perfect pitch at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes . Ivan Rakitic pounced to open the scoring from close-range midway through the first half before Suarez added to the Catalan 's advantage just after half-time . Fran Rico pulled one back for Granada from the penalty spot but Lionel Messi restored Barcelona 's two-goal advantage 20 minutes from the end when set up by Suarez . After losing at home to Malaga last weekend , Luis Enrique 's men were keen to ensure they fell no further behind arch rivals Real Madrid in the La Liga standings . The result means Barca moves to within one point of Real who play Villarreal Sunday . `` I am very happy and satisfied with the work the players did in very special conditions , '' Enrique told reporters after the match . `` The teams have to be commended for the game they played on grass like that . They both tried to play a passing game , and that 's worth highlighting . '' Enrique had rotated his squad after midweek victory at Manchester City in the Champions League . Barcelona legend Xavi returned to the starting lineup but the potent attacking triumvirate of Messi , Suarez and Neymar remained in place . The purposeful , all-action performance of Suarez , who scored twice in midweek against City , came in for particular praise from Enrique . `` Ever since he arrived , Suárez has been playing top class football and working very hard , '' he said . `` He may look more spectacular now and people are seeing more of him , but he has always been a special player that does a lot for the team . '' With Chelsea and Tottenham contesting the League Cup final at Wembley Sunday , there was a reduced fixture card in England Saturday . Wayne Rooney scored two second half goals as Manchester United overcame ten-man Sunderland at Old Trafford to keep up its chase for a Champions League spot . But United old-boy Wes Brown was sent off under controversial circumstances after it appeared referee Roger East mistook him for team-mate John O'Shea who looked to have fouled Red Devils ' striker Radamel Falcao . Although Sunderland players complained that Brown had not touched Falcao , East stood by his decision after consulting with his assistants . Elsewhere , relegation threatened Burnley fell 1-0 at home to Swansea City while Stoke City overcame Hull City by the same scoreline at the Britannia Stadium . Newcastle United ensured Tim Sherwood 's tricky start to life as Aston Villa manager continued with Papiss Cisse scoring as the only goal as the Magpies won 1-0 at St. James ' Park . An early goal from West Brom 's young striker Saido Berahino , meanwhile , was enough to ease out Southampton at the Hawthorns . In the Premier Leagues early fixture Crystal Palace upset West Ham 3-1 . Striker Glen Murray scored twice for Palace before being sent off for a second bookable offense late on . Borussia Dortmund 's Bundesliga resurrection continued with a 3-0 home victory over local rivals Schalke in the Ruhr derby . Although the scoreline and performance were ultimately convincing , Dortmund did n't break the deadlock until Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in the 78th minute . Henrikh Mkhitaryan added a second four minutes from the end before Marco Reus rounded off the scoring in injury time . The win is Dortmund 's fourth in a row in the league and pushes Jurgen Klopp 's men further clear of the relegation zone they occupied only a matter of weeks ago .
Barcelona defeats Granada 3 - 1 with goals from Rakitic , Silva and Messi . Result pushes Barcelona to within a point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid .