Record-chasing Lionel Messi and Neymar scored as Spanish league leaders Barcelona eased to a 2-0 win at nine-man Rayo Vallecano last night.

Messi chipped goalkeeper Antonio “Tono” Rodriguez in the 35th minute for his 249th league goal, leaving him two behind the all-time Primera Liga scoring record held by Telmo Zarra since 1955.

A minute later Neymar added his seventh league goal in as many rounds.

Rayo were spared a larger defeat thanks to Barcelona not exploiting their chances despite the hosts finishing two men down after Jorge Morcillo and Javier Aquino received their second bookings.

Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo broke a league record that had stood since 1977 for not conceding a goal through the first seven rounds of a Spanish league season.

Rayo’s offside trap was being breached regularly and, moments after Messi had had a goal ruled out, the Argentine showed great composure to dink the ball over the advancing Tono to open the scoring.

Barca doubled their advantage a minute later as Munir El Hadaddi fed Neymar and the Brazilian took his time before drilling the ball into the far corner.

Barca’s sixth win, to go with one draw, left them two points ahead of Valencia after they beat champions Atletico Madrid 3-1.

Atletico’s first league loss this season left them five points adrift of Barcelona and provisionally in third. Sevilla, Real Madrid and Celta Vigo can all pass Atletico with wins today.

Diego Simeone, the Atletico coach, lamented his side’s woeful start as they conceded three times in the opening 13 minutes.

“Valencia started very strongly and we made mistakes that we don’t usually make,” said the Argentine. “After that Atletico played very well and they didn’t have any more chances.”

The scoring opened with an own goal from Atletico’s Brazilian international defender Miranda, which was quickly followed by strikes from Andre Gomes and Nicolas Otamendi.

Mario Mandzukic got one back for Atletico, but their momentum was punctured when Guillherme Siqueira’s penalty was saved by Alves just before half-time.

“If we had scored the penalty, perhaps it would have been different,” said Simeone. “There are times, like today, where you can lose giving it everything.”