Koeman protests innocence over red card in shock defeat to Granada

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman lamented his side's inefficiency at both ends of the pitch as they blew the chance to go top of La Liga on Thursday by losing 2-1 to Granada at Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi, who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0 before Darwin Machis and Jorge Molina were left in acres of space to turn the game on its head in the second half.

Koeman's day got worse as he was sent off by referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes in the aftermath of Machis's 63rd-minute equaliser and will now be unable to sit on the bench for this weekend's trip to former club Valencia as well as next week's title showdown with Atletico.

"I don't understand why they sent me off," Koeman said. "They said it was for disrespecting the fourth official.

"I'd like to know what I'm supposed to have said. He's the one who is rude towards me. If they put something I haven't said in the referee's report then I'll have to do something."