Elche vs. Barcelona: Score, Grades and Reaction from La Liga Game

Elche 0-6 Barcelona

Neymar and Lionel Messi both scored twice to help Barcelona to a 6-0 win over Elche as Luis Suarez watched on from the bench.

The comfortable victory at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero maintained the pressure on league leaders Real Madrid.

After Los Blancos' win at Cordoba earlier in the day, the Camp Nou side initially struggled to find its rhythm.

But the home side was guilty of switching off at a 35th-minute free-kick to allow Gerard Pique to give the visitors the lead.

Barcelona were an improved team in the second half, and when Neymar was brought down in the area in the 53rd minute, Messi slotted home from the spot.

Messi subsequently repaid the Brazilian by setting up two goals inside three minutes for his team-mate.

The Argentina international then added a second goal of his own in the 88th minute after an excellent pass from Marc Bartra.

Neymar selflessly spurned the chance of a third goal in the 93rd minute, choosing instead to cross for Pedro to score Barcelona's sixth.

Luis Enrique made a surprise call by leaving Suarez on the bench, with Pedro starting the match alongside Messi and Neymar up front instead.

It was a quiet opening to the game with Barcelona probing but unable to find a way through the Elche back line, but Messi went close with a 20th-minute free-kick that had Przemyslaw Tyton scrambling.

But what Messi can do, Elche were more than happy to try to repeat, and Faycal Fajr went close with a long-range free-kick, which Claudio Bravo saved low to his left.

In the 35th minute, though, Elche switched off as they defended a free-kick following a foul on Pedro. Captain Xavi drifted the ball to the far post, where Pique had the time to chest the ball down and fire past Tyton.

Elche were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men in the 41st minute when Fajr went in high on Rafinha but earned only a yellow card.

That was one of five cautions for the home side in the opening 45 minutes, but despite not being at their best, Barcelona held the lead at the break.

Eight minutes into the second half, Barcelona added a second goal to ease any concerns.

Neymar powered into the Elche but was sent sprawling by the outstretched leg of Sergio Pelegrin. The match official pointed to the spot immediately, and Messi placed the ball beyond Tyton.

Elche were dealt a further blow moments later as they were reduced to 10 men after Fajr brought down Rafinha to earn a second yellow card.

If that weren't bad enough, the home side then lost Cisma to injury, with Edu Albacar coming on in his place.

Tyton was forced into action in the 62nd minute as he thwarted Pedro from a clever Xavi through ball.

But there was nothing the Elche goalkeeper could do to prevent Neymar's adding a third for Barcelona in the 69th minute.

Messi checked past one challenge before splitting two Elche defenders with his ball into the area for the Brazil international to curl around Tyton.

Two minutes later, the Messi-Neymar axis combined again with the Brazilian laying the ball off to his team-mate on the edge of the area. Messi lifted a return pass over the Elche defence, and it dropped for Neymar to add his second of the night.

With two minutes remaining, Messi added his second and Barcelona's fifth when he collected a fine Bartra ball inside the area and made space for the shot, which he rifled past Tyton.

Neymar could have claimed a hat-trick in injury time but instead opted to cross for Pedro to add his name to the scoresheet.

Selected Player Ratings

Neymar: A

Neymar looked a little out of sorts in the first period and needs to take a few more risks. It was a different story in the second half as his combination with Messi guided Barcelona to victory.

Lionel Messi: A

The Barcelona magician was always looking for opportunities, but he wasn't at his best in a lethargic first-half display all around his team. But he found his feet in the second period, assisting Neymar's goal tally.

Gerard Pique: A-

Pique did well to take his goal with some neat control on the chest but rarely troubled in defensive duties in the opening 45 minutes.

What's Ahead

Barcelona will now focus their attention to the Copa Del Rey quarter-final second leg on Wednesday at Atletico Madrid, where they will be defending a 1-0 lead from the first game at the Camp Nou.

Elche are next in action next Saturday when they travel to Granada in La Liga.

Post-Match Reaction