Tracking Performances of Real Madrid, Barcelona Stars After Dec. 20-21 Weekend

Karl MatchettDec 21, 2014

Matchweek 16 in La Liga is the final round of matches to be played in 2014, with Spanish football set for the winter break after this weekend.

In continuing our tracking of the top performers from the country's two biggest teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid, we have just two names to focus on this time around—with the latter club not in domestic action on this occasion.

Barcelona's Flattering Victory

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Barcelona closed the gap at the top of La Liga to a single point on Saturday, courtesy of a 5-0 win over 19th-placed Cordoba—but it wasn't a match where the home side were clearly five goals superior at all. Instead, an uneven display was eventually rounded off by three late goals to give the scoreline a lopsided look.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 20: Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona celebrates with his teammate Pedro Rodriguez of FC Barcelona after scoring his team's second goalduring the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Cordoba CF at Camp Nou on December 20, 2014 in

David Ramos/Getty Images

Neymar, returning from injury, was left on the bench, while Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi both played the entire 90 minutes.

Suarez started from the right side again and was lively, worked hard and looked to combine to get himself into scoring positions, even staying much wider for part of the first half than we have seen previously. The Uruguayan ran at the defence and tried to link with Martin Montoya down the right, but the full-back was hesitant at times, and the chance for momentum was lost.

Barcelona's new attacker did, however, play well for most of the game, and he finally got himself on the scoresheet.

"
Suarez first La Liga goal for barca! https://t.co/pC4jGqNjdL
— BarcaCommander (@FCBSamper) December 20, 2014"

A nice piece of control and composure saw his first La Liga goal for Barcelona, and his third of the campaign overall, in a match where he was involved and provided good off-the-ball running, especially in the second half, when he was more central.

Lionel Messi, by contrast, was very quiet and subdued for much of the game.

In fact, he had little impact whatsoever on Barcelona's best attacking moves of the game—until the final eight minutes, when he popped up and scored two right-footed goals to really give the scoreline a one-sided look.

"
4 - Leo Messi has scored 4 right-footed La Liga goals in a row for the first time in his career. Confirmation
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 20, 2014"

Messi didn't have to be at his best to beat Cordoba, but this was almost a game which bypassed him at times, with scruffy, loose possession from the home side and a lack of movement in midfield meaning he didn't really have much to get involved in.

Barcelona take the win, though, and Messi moves to 15 league goals for the season.

Player Ratings: Luis Suarez, 8/10. Lionel Messi, 7/10. Neymar, n/a.

Real Madrid's Quest for Glory

Real Madrid already knew they'd finish 2014 top of the league after beating Almeria last weekend and seeing Barcelona held by Getafe.

However, they did not play their 16th match in La Liga this weekend as they headed off for the Club World Cup, where they faced San Lorenzo in the final. Their rearranged league game, due to be against Sevilla, will take place in early February.

Player Ratings: n/a