Barcelona mauls Rayo Vallecano 6-0; Athletico Madrid back to Winning Ways deafing Valladoid 3-0
FC Barcelona warmed up for their highly anticipated UEFA Champions League clash with Manchester City in midweek with a 6-0 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano to 
remain on top of La Liga on goal difference.
Adriano got Barcelona off to a flying start when he curled home the opener inside two minutes while Lionel Messi doubled Barça’s lead before half-time with a delightful lob over Ruben Martinez. Alexis Sanchez made it three just before Pedro made a fruitful finish of teamwork assist by Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas.
Messi got his second of the evening midway through the second-half to overtake Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano as the third-highest scorer of all-time in La Liga on 228 goals and as the player to score most goals for a Liga team with 336 goals.
Brazilian wonder, Neymar rounded off a perfect evening for the hosts on his return from a sprained ankle when he scored the sixth goal from long-range two minutes from time.
“Today was probably the best (game of the season) because we had intensity, we pressed well, our passing was good and we knew when and when not to play out from the back,” Barça boss Gerardo Martino said.
“Results always change the opinion of the game, but for me the first half against Valencia or second-half against Sevilla were as good as today. Obviously the most difficult thing is sustaining that for 90 minutes and if we can continue that like we did today, it would be almost perfection.”
Atletico Madrid, however, remain level on points with the Catalans as they too were 3-0 winners over Valladolid on Saturday.
With two goals inside the first four minutes, Atletico had a comfortable win over Valladolid after three consecutive defeats in league and Cup.
Raul Garcia opened the scoring from a well-worked free-kick after three minutes before Diego Costa lofted in his 25th goal of the season 60 seconds later. Diego Godin rounded off the scoring when he headed home the third from Koke’s corner 17 minutes from time.
“The key was the intensity that the players started with,” Simeone said. “Going 2-0 ahead allowed us to relax and once it went 3-0 even more so.
“We continue to go minute by minute. We are happy to be top of the league until eight o’clock this evening, but there is still 14 games to go which is a lot.
” Real Madrid will at 5pm today, play away at Getafe’s Stadium, Coliseum Alfonso Perez, and hope to win in a bid to also match points with the league leaders.
