La Liga round-up: Barcelona beat Granada 3-1; Alberto Bueno scores four in Rayo Vallecano's win

Barcelona players celebrate Ivan Rakitic’s goal against Granada

Madrid, March 1 (IANS) FC Barcelona pulled to within one point of Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga with a 3-1 win away against a struggling Granada.

It was not a vintage show from the Catalans on a dry and bumpy pitch on Saturday, reports Xinhua. But star performances from Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic were enough to give them the points against a rival haunted by relegation.

Rakitic scored the opening goal after Suarez's shot was left for him to slide home from close range. He then set up Suarez shortly after the break for Barcelona to double their lead. Granada got a lifeline from the penalty spot and Fran Rico duly beat Claudio Bravo.

However, Lionel Messi made the points safe after Rakitic and Suarez again linked up to allow him to tap home his 27th league goal of the season, all be it from a suspiciously offside looking position.

Although Rakitic and Suarez starred for Barcelona, there is no doubt Rayo Vallecano striker Alberto Bueno was the man of the day in La Liga.

The former Real Madrid youngster scored all four goals in his side's 4-2 win at home to Levante in a devastating 15-minute first half spell.

Levante opened the scoring through Victor Casadesus after 13 minutes in the Vallecas Stadium. But Bueno enjoyed his best ever day in football with goals in the 23rd, 32nd, 33rd and 38th minutes to seal Rayo's win.

Kala Uche pulled a late consolation goal back for Levante. But the result leaves his side in the bottom three, while Rayo move seven points clear of the drop zone.

The match between Almeria and Deportivo la Coruna ended in a 0-0 draw with Almeria finishing the match with just nine men after Thievy Bifouma and Michel were both sent off for seeing two yellow cards each.