Messi had played the last half hour of Barca’s 4-0 humiliation of Real Madrid at the weekend, but this time he was on the pitch from the start, linking with Neymar and Luis Suarez and scoring with impunity. “We have not been able to do it. It would have taken a miracle for something different to happen; they are stratospheric, invincible”.
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It was the Argentinian’s first league goal since September following a two-month absence with a knee injury.
With the result beyond doubt, Neymar and Suarez went to pains to try and set up their strike partner Messi, who went close three times and struck the upright before he got his goal to round off the rout in stoppage time.
Astonishingly, the trio’s latest performances meant that Messi, Neymar and Suarez have so far scored 125 goals between them in all competitions for Barca over the calendar year.
“Still, nobody has ever won the League in December”.
“We’re enjoying working on a daily basis, and that’s the most important thing”. We’re at a good moment and we have to take maximum advantage.
Barca coach Luis Enrique sprang one surprise in his side with Jeremy Mathieu in for Jordi Alba at let back while Javier Mascherano was back in central defense after missing out in midweek following a knock he picked up during the “clasico”.
“It is not a cliche, there is a long way to go and we will all drop points between now and the end of the season”.
“Leo, Neymar and myself are team players and we look to help the team”.
The Catalan giants are now flying both domestically and in Europe, sitting comfortably at the top of La Liga and having already qualified at the top of their Champions League group with a game to spare, but Enrique says the team must keep pushing themselves in order to continue their enviable success. “They are out of this world and you can’t play against them right now”.
The Barca talisman also touched on his return to the team and was satisfied with his display in the game against Roma.
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The home side pushed for a third goal just before the break, as Neymar lashed a cross towards Lionel Messi, but the Socidedad defence did well to thwart the Argentine.
