All three were on target inside 28 minutes as Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot before teeing up Luis Suarez to volley home and Neymar was left with the simple task of registering the 100th goal between the trio from Suarez's pass.
Madrid: Barcelona's star front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar brought up a century of goals in all competitions as the Catalans moved five points clear at the top of La Liga with a 6-0 humbling of Getafe on Tuesday.
All three were on target inside 28 minutes as Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot before teeing up Suarez to volley home and Neymar was left with the simple task of registering the 100th goal between the trio from Suarez's pass.
Xavi Hernandez then curled home a stunning fourth before Suarez made it 5-0 with a similar finish into the far corner and Messi rounded off the scoring in typical style on his favoured left foot early in the second-half.
Real Madrid can close the gap at the top back to two points when they host Almeria on Wednesday.
"Luckily the first shots on goal we had went in, the team played very well in the first-half and that is the most important thing," said Suarez.
"I don't know if there is a key to our success. There is total commitment among the team and the fans. We are obliged to win important things and we are entering the most important stage of the season."
Barca boss Luis Enrique had resisted the temptation to rest any of his front three despite making four changes from the side that won 2-0 at Espanyol on Saturday with one eye on next week's Champions League semi-final, first-leg against Bayern Munich.
That decision was richly rewarded in a stunning first-half display that tore the helpless visitors to shreds.
Messi put his recent yips from the penalty spot behind him as he opened the scoring by chipping the ball straight down the middle of the goal in the style made famous by Czech legend Antonin Panenka in the 1976 European Championships after Suarez had been felled by Alvaro Arroyo.
Getafe nearly drew level moments later when Claudio Bravo made a brilliant recovery save to claw Fredy Hinestroza's lob to safety to make up for his original poor positioning.
Suarez put the result beyond doubt with a sumptuous volley from Messi's inviting cross and the Uruguayan then turned provider for Neymar to bring up the century.
Moments later Xavi scored what could well be his final goal at the Camp Nou with the veteran expected to move to Qatar at the end of the season by curling the ball high into the far corner.
Xavi's flick then set up Suarez to finish in similar style to register his 21st goal of the season before the break.
Despite the upcoming date with former coach Pep Guardiola and Bayern in eight days time there was little let up from the hosts after the break.
However, the goals did dry up after Messi had curled home his 38th league goal of the campaign to move within one of Cristiano Ronaldo in the race to be La Liga's top goalscorer two minutes into the second period.
The four-time World Player of the Year came close to a seventh hat-trick of the season six minutes from time, but Vicente Guaita made a fine save to turn his free-kick to safety.
Elsewhere, David Moyes's Real Sociedad salvaged a point in the Basque derby away to Athletic Bilbao despite playing most of the second-half with 10 men.
Aritz Aduriz put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot after he had been brought down inside the area by Mike Gonzalez, who saw red for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
But a wonderful finish from left-back Alberto de la Bella on his weaker right foot seven minutes later earned Sociedad a point.
At the bottom, Levante moved six points clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over the doomed Cordoba thanks to David Barral's first-half winner.
Barcelona dominated from the off and two goals in eight minutes sealed the win as Neymar and Lionel Messi rounded off excellent team moves.
Madrid: Neymar and Lionel Messi were on target as Barcelona produced a sensational first-half performance to take a huge step towards the La Liga title with a 2-0 win at local rivals Espanyol on Saturday.
The visitors dominated from the off and two goals in eight minutes sealed the win as Neymar and Messi rounded off excellent team moves.
Barca were reduced to 10 men early in the second period as Jordi Alba was given his marching orders for taking his protestations towards referee Mateu Lahoz too far, but Luis Enrique's men held on comfortably and could have even added to their lead had Neymar not blazed a glorious chance over 25 minutes from time.
Victory takes Barca four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table with Los Blancos not in action until Sunday when they travel to Celta Vigo.
"I think we played the best first-half of the season in terms of dominating all facets of the game. We had the ball in their half, moved the ball well, created chances and pressed well after losing the ball," said Barca boss Luis Enrique.
"In the second-half I thought we played very well too despite the fact the sending-off could have created doubts or made us struggle a bit more."
Espanyol 'keeper Kiko Casilla kept his side in the game early on as he made two great saves to deny Neymar and Luis Suarez at the end of moves started by fine crossfield passes by Messi.
The Argentine then fed Neymar with a fine ball over the top, but there was just too much purchase on the Brazilian's finish as it looped over Casilla and over the bar.
There was nothing Casilla could do to prevent Neymar opening the scoring on 17 minutes as another stunning pass from Messi fed Alba on the left and his cross was dummied by Suarez to allow Neymar the simplest of finishes.
Barca doubled their advantage eight minutes later in controversial circumstances as Andres Iniesta's pass found Suarez in an offside position, but the flag wasn't raised and he picked out Messi at the back post, who squeezed the ball past Casilla at his near post.
That goal took Messi, Neymar and Suarez's combined tally for the season to 97 and they could even have reached a century on the day had their finishing been more precise.
Casilla made two more terrific saves to deny Neymar after good work from Suarez just before and after the break.
The visitors were then reduced to 10 men as Alba was sent-off in innocuous circumstances for his protestations towards the referee after he awarded Espanyol a goal-kick.
Barcelona still enjoyed the best of the chances with 10 men as Messi saw a shot deflected onto the post before Neymar blazed over with the goal at his mercy from Suarez's unselfish cut-back.
Barca's fine day was rounded off when Xavi Hernandez replaced Iniesta for the final few minutes to make his 500th La Liga appearance.
And Lahoz balanced up the numbers on the field in stoppage time by remarkably also showing Hector Moreno two yellow cards in a matter of seconds for contesting a decision.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
