A Neymar double, a spectacular volley from Luis Suarez and a goal for Lionel Messi saw top of the table Barcelona‘s unstoppable strike force sweep aside Real Sociedad 4-0 in La Liga yesterday.
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Coached by former Barcelona player and assistant manager Eusebio Sacristan, Sociedad tried to dispute Barcelona’s possession by pressuring far up the pitch.
The first two goals came from Dani Alves (difficult to imagine his form over the last 18 months compared to the year before that), twice setting Neymar and Suarez up for goals from the right wing.
“Our objective is to work as a team and that we score when we have to score”.
With Roma in disarray, Messi netted the hosts’ fifth after Suarez and Gerard Pique scored.
A win for Real Sociedad could propel them to as high as 11th in the standings, while a Barcelona win will make it 11 wins in 13 games this season for the reigning champions.
In the 90th minute, Edin Dzeko scored a consolation goal for the visitors after missing a penalty in the 82nd minute.
Victory moved Barca nine points clear of eternal rivals Real Madrid, who face Eibar on Sunday, at the top of La Liga just a week after inflicting a humiliating 4-0 defeat on Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Yet despite the way that they have been crushing sides recently, Luis Enrique feels that Barca are still not at their peak. “No doubt this will change and we have to be ready to overcome those moments”.
“I have the feeling that we’re in our best shape of the season. Now we have very important games ahead of us, such as the World Club Championship (in December), I hope we can keep it up”, said the striker, whose words were reflected by coach Luis Enrique. Barcelona discovered they had qualified from Group E before they had even kicked a ball at the Camp Nou, the 1-1 draw between BATE Borisov and Bayer Leverkusen in Belarus ensuring their passage. “I see my team very focused, with everyone motivated”.
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“The humility with which Messi has welcomed Suarez and Neymar into the team has been central to it”. “That Barca are interested in our players obviously pleases us, but they’re not for sale”.
