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

Barcelona moved provisionally seven points clear atop La Liga following a 4-0 victory over visiting Almeria on Wednesday night at the Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, breaking the deadlock with a superb curling effort from the edge of the box. Luis Suarez made it 2-0 in the 55th minute with a near-perfect copy, and Marc Bartra added the third 15 minutes from time.

With the final seconds ticking off, Suarez netted his second in stoppage time to ensure Barca's lead atop La Liga will be at least four points heading into the weekend.

The Blaugrana now top the table with 74 points through 30 matches, seven points ahead of rivals Real Madrid, who were set to play at Rayo Vallecano later Wednesday night. With eight games left in the season, Barca look a good bet to reclaim the league title, which they last won in 2012-13.

The victory was Barca's sixth straight in league play and ninth in all competitions, and that strong run will boost confidence as the Blaugrana approach an important run of games. On Saturday, Luis Enrique's side will continue their bid for a league title with a potentially tricky trip to fifth-placed Sevilla. Four days later is a trip to France to face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are also still alive in the Copa del Rey, with the final against Athletic Bilbao set for May 30. If Messi and Co. continue their current form, their chances for a treble of trophies will improve with each passing day.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Almeria entered the day in 18th place with 25 points, and the loss means Sergi Barjuan's side will remain in the relegation zone at least until the weekend.

Barcelona settled into their possession-based style quickly, dominating the ball and probing Almeria's defence for weaknesses. The hosts had a first sight of goal in the sixth minute as Suarez headed over from a Xavi corner.

In the 13th minute, right-back Dani Alves picked out Messi with a pinpoint cross into the box. Messi connected with a header from 15 yards, but the ball flew straight at Almeria goalkeeper Julian Cuesta, who saved comfortably.

David Ramos/Getty Images

At the other end, two minutes later, Thievy Bifouma wriggled free inside the Barcelona box before hitting a deflected shot wide of the far post.

Luis Suarez created an opening in the 23rd minute, slipping free of his marker after accepting a pass from Messi on the right. Approaching the goal at a tight angle, the Uruguayan opted to centre the ball, but Almeria cleared.

The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute via a familiar source. Collecting a pass from Bartra along the right touchline, Messi cut inside to beat one defender before curling an unstoppable left-footed drive into the net at the far post for a 1-0 Barcelona lead.

It was Messi's 33rd league goal of the season and, per Squawka Football, his 21st strike in 21 appearances across all competitions this calendar year.

The score remained the same through the remainder of the first half. Barcelona's first half-chance after the interval came in the 49th minute, when Adriano placed a shot on target from outside the box. The ball flew too close to Julian, who saved easily.

Barca doubled their lead six minutes later via Suarez, who quite nearly matched Messi with a goal that was remarkably similar to the opener. Taking possession on the right, Suarez cut inside and curled a left-footed shot around the goalkeeper and into the net at the far post. The shot packed more power than Messi's and curved less, but otherwise the finish was nearly the same.

The hosts nearly had a third goal in the 71st minute as substitute Martin Montoya picked out Pedro with a cross from the right. Pedro redirected the ball on target with a first-time effort, but Julian saved.

David Ramos/Getty Images

The third goal arrived four minutes later as Bartra put his name on the scoresheet. Xavi whipped in a corner to the near post, where Bartra nodded a low, angled header off the pitch and into the net.

Messi put the ball in the net again in the 80th minute, but the goal was ruled out for a foul earlier in the move. The Argentinian came close once more in the 85th minute, but his free-kick deflected into the grateful arms of Julian.

Barcelona could have won a penalty in the 87th minute, when Messi drew a foul along the edge of the box. Replays suggested the foul occurred just as Messi was entering the box, but the referee awarded a free-kick instead of a penalty. Messi curled the free-kick on target one minute later, but Julian saved.

Almeria had a goal disallowed in stoppage time, with Thomas Partey's acrobatic volley ruled out for an infraction in the buildup.

Barcelona finally netted the fourth goal in the third minute of stoppage time. Messi sliced open the defence with a pass down the left to Pedro, who unselfishly squared for Suarez. Unmarked, Suarez tapped in for 4-0.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Claudio Bravo	7.7
Dani Alves	8.2
Marc Bartra	8.8
Javier Mascherano	6.9
Adriano	7.3
Ivan Rakitic	7.2
Sergi Roberto	7.7
Xavi	8.7
Lionel Messi	9.6
Luis Suarez	9.1
Pedro	8.5
Martin Montoya (for Alves, 64')	6.5
Rafinha (for Rakitic, 67')	6.2

Reaction

Barcelona forward Luis Suarez, via Football Espana:

"

We know that if we’re not focused on the League we won’t get three points. And then we won’t lead the League. We depend on ourselves and we have to continue. It’s one of the parts of the season in which we have more to play for. We have to have personality because we’re Barca.

"

Almeria coach Sergi Barjuan, via Football Espana:

"

I’m very happy with the team’s play. The balance was good and we often did well on the counter-attack. I only worked for three hours with them. The teamwork was amazing and the few moves we worked on, we put into practice. I was impressed with (youth team product) Marin on his debut.

We take more positives than negatives from this defeat.

"