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Messi, Neymar on target as Barca hit Rayo for six

Barcelona Warmed Up For Their Highly Anticipated Champions League Clash With Manchester City In Midweek With A 6-0 Thrashing Of Rayo Vallecano To Remain On Top Of La Liga On Goal Difference.

PTI | Updated on: 16 Feb 2014, 03:43:45 PM

Madrid:

Barcelona warmed up for their highly anticipated Champions League clash with Manchester City in midweek with a 6-0 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano to remain on top of La Liga on goal difference.

Atletico Madrid remain level on points with the Catalans as they too were 3-0 winners over Valladolid .

Adriano got Barcelona off to a flying start when he curled home the opener inside two minutes.

Lionel Messi doubled Barca's lead before half-time with a delightful lob over Ruben Martinez.

The Argentine then teed up Alexis Sanchez to make it three before Pedro rounded off a wonderful team move involving Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas.

Messi got his second of the evening midway through the second-half to overtake Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano as the third-highest scorer of all-time in La Liga on 228 goals.

And Neymar rounded off a perfect evening for the hosts on his return from a sprained ankle when he blasted home the sixth from long-range two minutes from time.

"Today was probably the best (game of the season) because we had intensity, we pressed well, our passing was good and we knew when and when not to play out from the back," said Barca boss Gerardo Martino.

"Results always change the opinion of the game, but for me the first half against Valencia or second-half against Sevilla were as good as today.

"Obviously the most difficult thing is sustaining that for 90 minutes and if we can continue that like we did today, it would be almost perfection."

Martino had handed a rest to Xavi Hernandez, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba with the City clash in mind, whilst Neymar was named on the bench after a month out.

Adriano was one of those handed a start by the changes and he took just 90 seconds to make his mark with a fine strike from 25 yards.

Messi and Pedro were then unfortunate to both strike the woodwork as Barca laid seige upon the Rayo goal in the early stages.

However, Victor Valdes had to be alive to prevent the visitors levelling when he bravely parried the ball away from the feet of Alberto Bueno before blocking Iago Falque's follow-up effort.

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First Published : 16 Feb 2014, 03:42:00 PM

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