The Neymar and Luis Suarez double act left Barcelona in fine
fettle ahead of the first El Clasico of the season with a 3-0 dismissal of
Villarreal Sunday to top the La Liga standings.
Barca's next
game is in the Santiago Bernabeu on November 21 against arch-rival Real Madrid,
who needed to win at Seville in the late game to draw level on points at the
top with the Catalan giants.
European
champion Barcelona has been without its star player Lionel Messi for the past
six weeks, but Neymar and Suarez have stepped into the breach by scoring all 17
of its league goals since his injury layoff.
Their incredible
record was maintained after a scoreless first half in the Nou Camp, the on-form
Neymar converting after a Sergio Busquets's through ball.
Suarez stepped up to take the penalty for the second after Munir
El Haddadi had been brought down by Jaume Costa.
Neymar might
have taken the spot kick and Suarez returned the favor by supplying the pass
from the Brazilian conjured up a magical third, flipping it over a defender and
volleying home. He has scored a league leading 11 goals and 13 in all
competitions.
"We are
talking about a unique player, special. We have to look at his work." said
Barcelona boss Luis Henrique as he reflected on a vital win.
"That the
team is growing and improving in key aspects of the game is obvious," he
told the official Barcelona website.
"Right
now Neymar is the most dominating striker in the league," said Villarreal
head coach Marcelino Garcia Toral.
Earlier, Athletic Bilbao secured its fifth straight win in all
competitions, set on its way by a wonder goal from Inaki Williams in a 3-1
victory over Espanyol
The young
striker converted with a spectacular volley after flicking the ball over Enzo
Roco before unleashing a spectacular volley into the top corner.
Hernan Perez
leveled for the visitors just after halftime but Raul Garcia headed home the
winner for Bilbao midway through the second half.
Man City tops EPL
In the English Premier League,
Manchester City stayed top of the standings on goal difference from Arsenal on
a Sunday afternoon which saw a thrilling 1-1 draw in the North London derby and
the first defeat for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
City was held to
a goalless draw at bottom club Aston Villa where Remi Garde took charge for the
first time, but Arsenal missed the chance to go above them after a 1-1 home
draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Harry Kane put
Spurs, unbeaten in the EPL since the first game of the season, deservedly in
front with a first half opener as the visitors had the better of a closely
fought match.
Arsenal saw Olivier Giroud waste a series of headed
opportunities in the second half but Tottenham again made the better openings
with Kane and Christian Eriksen going close.
Substitute
Kieran Gibbs proved an unlikely savior for the hosts as he connected with a
Mesut Ozil pass at the far post and it was Arsenal who finished on the front
foot.
Liverpool trailed
at Anfield to a Yannick Bolasie opener for Crystal Palace in the 21st minute
but looked to have regained the initiative when Phlippe Coutinho leveled just
before halftime.
But it was Palace
who took the three points through Scott Dann's winner with eight minutes to go,
sealing a third straight victory over the Merseyside giants after completing a
league double last season.
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