Neymar and Lionel Messi were on target as a strong first-half performance helped Barcelona remain on course to win the Primera Liga title after they beat Espanyol 2-0 on Saturday.
Barcelona dominated from the start 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.
Victory takes Barca five points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table with Real not in action until Sunday when they travel to Celta Vigo.
Luis Enrique, the Barcelona coach, said: “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.
“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 goalkeeper 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.
There was nothing Casilla could do to prevent Neymar opening the scoring on 17 minutes as another 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 was not 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.
Barca were 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 on to 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.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid, the defending champions, maintained their outside chance of retaining their crown by defeating Elche 3-0.
Two goals from Antoine Griezmann and one from Raul Garcia, all in the second half, gave Atletico the points and leaves them nine behind with Barca with five games of the season remaining.
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