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GRIEZMANN DOUBLE FIRES FRANCE TO VICTORY OVER FINLAND

Antoine Griezmann played chief tormentor as France sprung back into life to end a five-game winless streak by beating visitors Finland 2-0 in a World Cup Group D qualifier on Tuesday.

Griezmann struck in each half after his partnership with Karim Benzema bore fruit in satisfying fashion to put the world champions on 12 points from six matches at the top of the group.

Finland, who had a decent opening half, are third on five points but have two games in hand of the French.

Bosnia are fourth on three points from four games after a 2-2 draw with bottom side Kazakhstan, who also have three points. Ukraine are second on five points from as many matches.

“Even it was not perfect we showed determination and with that came some more technical quality,” said France coach Didier Deschamps.

“We had more confidence, it was more like us. It’s a very important result for us, now we have to finish the job in November.”

After two 1-1 draws against Bosnia and Ukraine, Deschamps’ tinkering paid off as France started in an usual 5-2-3 formation with Leo Dubois and Theo Hernandez as fullbacks and Griezmann, Anthony Martial and Benzema up front.

But it was Finland who had the first clear chance through Urho Nissila, whose floating strike was tipped over the bar by Hugo Lloris.

Les Bleus, however, were on the attack and Lukas Hradecky pulled off a nice save in the 22nd minute to deny Benzema.

Griezmann found the back of the net when he whipped the ball past Hradecky with the outside of his foot after collecting a clever deflection in the box by Benzema on 25 minutes.

Finland continued to threaten on the break, but France proved clinical early in the second half.

After some more nice work from Benzema, Dubois found Griezmann in the area and the forward sneaked the ball between Hradecky and the left-hand post to give the hosts some breathing space in the 53rd.

He has now scored 41 international goals to become France’s joint third all-time top scorer alongside Michel Platini.

Shortly afterwards, Martial missed Hernandez’s cross for what would have been France’s third.

France controlled the end game, keeping the ball high on the pitch and creating a few chances through Benzema, who had a night to remember on his visit to his former stadium, 12 years after leaving Lyon for Real Madrid.

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COPA DEL REY: GRIEZMANN DOUBLE INSPIRES BARCA COME BACK VICTORY AGAINST GRANADA.

Antoine Griezmann led Barcelona back from the brink on Wednesday as the Catalans beat Granada 5-3 after extra-time to win a riveting cup tie and reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Barca looked set to crash out at Los Carmenes when Granada led 2-0 with two minutes of normal time remaining but Griezmann scored one goal in the 88th minute and then set up Jordi Alba for a dramatic equaliser in the 92nd. Griezmann headed his team in front in extra-time only for Granada’s Fede Vico to make it 3-3 with a penalty.

Yet Frenkie de Jong’s finish and a thumping volley from Alba, also set up by Griezmann, sent a relieved Barcelona through.

“It was a brilliant, beautiful cup tie,” said Griezmann.

Ronald Koeman admitted the Copa del Rey is his team’s “shortest route” to a trophy this season and with Atletico Madrid 10 points clear in La Liga and Paris Saint-Germain to come in the Champions League, it may prove their only route too.

Granada, though, came within a whisker of another huge upset as goals from Robert Kenedy and Roberto Soldado put them in sight of the last four.

Instead, Koeman’s side rallied, with Lionel Messi the architect and Griezmann delivering surely his best performance since he joined Barcelona from Atletico 18 months ago.

It is the kind of performance that could prove a starting point for Koeman’s team.

A match and a result like this will feed our spirit and our strength,” said Koeman. “These are moments that can be very important in a season.”

Griezmann now has six goals and seven assists in his last nine games.

Now I need consistency,” said Griezmann. “I’ve felt good since January and I want to keep it going until the end of the season. I feel like I have the confidence of my coach and my teammates.”

Barca’s reward is a place in the semis and they will be heavy favourites after early exits for Atletico and Real Madrid.

They join Sevilla, who beat Almeria on Tuesday, and Levante, who also came through after extra-time for a surprise 1-0 win against Villarreal.

Real Betis or Athletic Bilbao play on Thursday for the last spot.

Samuel Umtiti was at fault for Granada’s opening two goals, first robbed by Alberto Soro, who fired a quick pass across for Kenedy to score, and then outrun by Soldado, who finished into the corner.

Sergi Roberto went off with what looked like a hamstring strain and Barca searched for a way back.

Francisco Trincao and Messi both hit the woodwork while Griezmann drew a smart save from goalkeeper Aaron Escandell with a bicycle kick.

Finally the pressure told in the 88th minute, Griezmann sliding onto Messi’s curled pass to the back post and catching it on the bounce, the ball cannoning off the goalkeeper and in.

Granada had four minutes of added time to survive and they held out for only two, a carbon-copy pass from Messi finding Griezmann in the same spot, this time the striker heading across for Alba to nod in.

Luis Suarez could still have won it for Granada in normal time but drove wide when sent clear and it looked like Barca had it wrapped up when Griezmann scored again in extra-time, heading in Alba’s cross from the left.

Granada struck back almost immediately, though, Sergino Dest knocking over Carlos Neva in the box and Fede Vico converting the penalty, only for Barcelona to find a fourth. Messi’s shot was parried out for De Jong to poach the rebound.

Granada were on the ropes and a fifth proved the knock-out blow. Griezmann swept a superb pass out to Alba, who nonchalantly volleyed in for perhaps the best goal of a thrilling night.

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MESSI, GRIEZMANN NET BRACES IN BARCA BIG WIN AT GRANADA.

Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann each bagged two goals as Barcelona eased to a comfortable 4-0 victory at Granada on Saturday.

Griezmann ended his goal drought of nine matches in all competitions as Barca closed the gap on the Madrid clubs at the top of the table.

Granada almost scored the opener inside the first two minutes but Marc-Andre ter Stegen produced a superb save from Antonio Puertas.

Barca took the lead after 12 minutes when Griezmann reacted quickest inside the box and finished into the bottom corner.

Griezmann then turned provider when he set up Messi who curled the ball into the top corner.

Messi scored his second just before half-time with a stunning free-kick. The Barca captain has now scored 10 goals or more in La Liga for the 15th consecutive campaign.

Griezmann grabbed his second of the match after 63 minutes with a half-volley from a tight angle.

Granada went down to 10 men after Jesus Vallejo was dismissed for a professional foul on Martin Braithwaite.

“Before I could barely score one goal but right now it looks like things are going pretty well,” Griezmann said postmatch.

Ronald Koeman’s side sit four points off league leaders Atletico Madrid after their match against Athletic Bilbao was postponed due to disruptions from a rare snowstorm.

“This is an important win, we knew we were in a difficult situation and couldn’t afford to lose any more games and it’s been a very good week for us, winning three games, all away from home, and while playing some very good football,” Koeman said after the match.

“We showed that the team is growing in quality and in confidence. I’m very pleased that we scored four goals and we need to keep playing like we did today, when we only needed a few chances to score.”

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BARCELONA SUFFER GRIEZMANN INJURY BLOW EN ROUTE BATTLE FOR LA LIGA TITLE

Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann is set to miss his side’s final two La Liga games after picking up a thigh injury during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Real Valladolid.

Griezmann, 29, was brought off at half time after suffering a knock and the club released a statement on Sunday to confirm the forward will be out of action.

Barca did not confirm how long Griezmann will be unavailable but he is expected to miss the matches against Alaves and Osasuna.

The France international has endured a tough debut campaign since his €120 million transfer from Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann has scored 15 goals in all competitions but was left out of the starting lineup for a number of weeks under manager Quique Setien.

Griezmann’s brother and father criticised Setien on social media after the Barca boss refused to apologise for bringing Griezmann on in stoppage time against Atletico.

A source say the club have reassured Griezmann that he is part of their future plans after meeting with his camp this week.

According to the source, the meeting went “perfectly,” with both the club and the player’s camp expressing a desire for the relationship to continue.

Barca are one point behind league leaders Real Madrid who have a game in hand on their fierce rivals.

Barca face the prospect of playing German champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals if both sides make it through their round-of-16 ties.

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GRIEZMANN SLAMMED AS IAGO ASPAS LATE FREE KICK DASHES BARCELONA TITLE HOPE.

Real Madrid are now the overwhelming favourites to win the 2019-20 La Liga title after Barcelona dropped points away at Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Luis Suarez scored twice for Barça, but Iago Aspas’s late free-kick earned a point for Celta.

Suarez opened the scoring in the 20th minute courtesy of a wonderful Lionel Messi assist before Fyodor Smolov equalised early in the second half.

Suarez then doubled his – and Barcelona’s – tally in the 67th minute.

However, Aspas had the final say when his free-kick found a way past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Ter Stegen is not getting the blame for Celta’s second goal, though.

Instead, Antoine Griezmann has been slammed by fans on social media for turning his back at the end of the wall.

As Aspas struck the ball with his left foot, Griezmann jumped and turned his back. The ball subsequently found a way into the bottom corner of the net.

Had Griezmann been braver, Barcelona may well have ended the game with their one-goal advantage intact.

Real Madrid can now move three points clear of their eternal rivals when they face Espanyol on Sunday.

“Our feelings are bad because of what happened today. We lost points, but the league is not over yet,” Suarez told reporters after the match.

“We hope that Real Madrid will drop points, both of us still have difficult games.

“I feel angry and upset about the draw.”