Match ends, Barcelona 6, Rayo Vallecano 0.
BarcelonaBarcelona6Rayo VallecanoRayo Vallecano0
Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona prepared for Tuesday's Champions League trip to Manchester City by returning to the top of La Liga with a stylish win over Rayo Vallecano.
Left-back Adriano curled in the opener before Argentina's Messi lobbed in.
Alexis Sanchez latched onto Messi's pass to score after the break before Pedro converted a slick move.
Messi scored his second from 15 yards before substitute Neymar scored from long range on his return from injury.
The four-time world football of the year went above former Real Madrid striker and compatriot Alfredo Di Stefano in La Liga goal-scoring history, and his 228 goals in 263 games takes him joint third in the all-time league goal-scoring charts with ex-Real Madrid striker Raul.
He has now scored five goals in three games for the defending La Liga champions and looks to be returning to top form, after an injury-hit season, ahead of their last 16 Champions League meeting with Manchester City in midweek.
Barcelona also look to be hitting form at the right time as they dispatched struggling Rayo Vallecano with ultimate ease to return to the La Liga summit.
Atletico Madrid's 3-0 win over Real Valladolid earlier in the day had temporarily put them top but Barca moved back ahead of Diego Simeone's men on goal difference.
Real Madrid can move back level on points with both their rivals with victory at Getafe on Sunday.
Adriano got Barcelona off to the perfect start when he curled home the opener inside two minutes, before Messi and Pedro struck the post.
A sublime lob from Messi doubled Barca's lead before half-time and he then teed up Alexis Sanchez to calmly make it three after the break.
A brilliant backheel from Andres Iniesta then freed Cesc Fabregas inside the area and he unselfishly squared for Pedro to slot home from close range.
Messi scored his second as he slotted Sanchez's pass into the far corner, before substitute Neymar fired a stunning 25-yard strike into the top corner in his first game in three weeks.
Line-ups
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Valdés
- 22Alves da Silva
- 21Correia
- 16Busquets
- 3Piqué
- 5PuyolSubstituted forMascheranoat 68'minutes
- 4Fábregas
- 8Iniesta
- 10MessiSubstituted forTelloat 74'minutes
- 9Sánchez
- 7PedroSubstituted forNeymarat 62'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Neymar
- 13Pinto Colorado
- 14Mascherano
- 17Song
- 18Alba
- 19Afellay
- 20Tello
Rayo Vallecano
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Martínez
- 21ArbillaSubstituted forRomán Trigueroat 42'minutes
- 26Mojica
- 10Trashorras
- 18Rosa Vale Castro
- 22Saúl
- 16Rochina
- 4Baena
- 20LarriveySubstituted forLongoat 73'minutes
- 23BuenoSubstituted forViera Ramosat 62'minutes
- 24Falqué
Substitutes
- 1Cobeño
- 2Román Triguero
- 7Bangoura
- 8González Morales
- 12Longo
- 17Galeano
- 19Viera Ramos
- Referee:
- Juan Martínez Munuera
- Attendance:
- 74,517
Match Stats
Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamRayo Vallecano
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home21
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away4
- Corners
- Home12
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 6, Rayo Vallecano 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jonathan Viera (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Johan Mojica.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 6, Rayo Vallecano 0. Neymar (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Andrés Iniesta.
Post update
Offside, Rayo Vallecano. Rubén Rochina tries a through ball, but Roberto Trashorras is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Adriano (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Cristian Tello.
Post update
Dani Alves (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Johan Mojica (Rayo Vallecano).
Post update
Attempt saved. Rubén Rochina (Rayo Vallecano) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Raúl Baena.
Post update
Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Dani Alves.
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Saúl Ñíguez.
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Saúl Ñíguez.
Post update
Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).
Post update
Jonathan Viera (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Zé Castro.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Francesc Fábregas (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Cristian Tello replaces Lionel Messi.
Post update
Attempt missed. Rubén Rochina (Rayo Vallecano) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Iago Falqué.
Substitution
Substitution, Rayo Vallecano. Samuele Longo replaces Joaquín Larrivey.
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Saúl Ñíguez.
