Neymar scored a fantastic individual goal as Barcelona warmed up for El Clasico with a 3-0 victory at home to Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday.
The Brazilian wrapped up the win in stunning fashion, collecting a pass from Luis Suarez, flicking the ball over a defender’s head and then volleying into the net.
He had earlier broken Villarreal’s stubborn resistance on the hour mark, coolly finishing from Sergio Busquets’ pass.
The win is Barca’s fourth in a row in La Liga and sets them up well for the trip to Real Madrid on November 21, after the international break.
They were, though, frustrated for an hour by Villarreal at the Nou Camp and struggled to create too many clear chances on goal.
Suarez shot wide in the seventh minute before Jeremy Mathieu’s low strike was well saved by Alphonse Areola.
Villarreal looked a threat on the counter and Samu Castillejo was presented with the best chance of the half towards the end as he found himself through after a one-two, only to be thwarted by Claudio Bravo.
Barca’s frustration seemed clear soon after the restart as Suarez and Neymar talked themselves into yellow cards.
But they continued to plug away, and after Areola had done well to keep out a Dani Alves effort and Suarez headed off-target from a free-kick, they took the lead.
The visitors gave possession away near their own box and were swiftly punished as Busquets slid the ball through to Neymar, who beat Areola.
As Luis Enrique’s side looked to finish off the job, Areola got down to block an effort from Andres Iniesta, another Barca man who had managed to get himself booked.
And with 20 minutes to go, the second goal arrived as Costa – picking up a yellow card himself for the trouble – clattered Munir in the area and Suarez duly tucked away the resulting spot-kick.
Suarez was then denied by Areola before providing a delightful assist from which Neymar wowed the Camp Nou crowd with his brilliant second goal.
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