Madrid (AFP) - 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 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.
