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
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.
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.
Atletico Madrid bounced back from their Champions League
elimination at the hands of Real Madrid to strengthen their hold on thrid place
with a 3-0 win over Elche at the Vicente Calderon.
Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring with a neat headed
finish after Przemysław Tyton had brilliantly saved from Koke’s initial effort,
but the Polish ‘keeper was slow to react as Raul Garcia’s shot sneaked in at
his near post for the second.
Griezmann then rounded off the scoring from Saul Niguez’s
pass to become the highest scoring Frenchman ever in a single La Liga season
with 22 goals.
Atletico are now seven points clear of Valencia in third
place with Los Che not in action until Monday when they host Granada.
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