Barcelona 4-1 Valladolid: Neymar and Alexis Sanchez keep the party going

Full-time: Barcelona 4-1 Valladolid
Goals: Alexis 14′, 64′; Xavi 52′; Neymar 70′
Match date: October 5, 2013
Stadium: Camp Nou
Competition: La Liga
Barcelona line-up: Valdés, Adriano, Piqué, Bartra, Daniel Alves, Song, Xavi, Fabregas, Tello, Neymar, Alexis Sánchez

Barça stepped on to the Camp Nou knowing beforehand that they would have to get past Real Valladolid without Lionel Messi‘s contribution. The Argentinian is currently recovering from an injury on thigh, which necessarily opens enough room for other players to step up.

That’s exactly what happened, but before the Blaugrana started proving that they aren’t that “Messi-dependent“, it was Valladolid who got the opportunity to break the deadlock. With 10 minutes played in the first half, Valladolid scored the opener from a way too easy header, following a corner kick taken on the left attacking side. The way Javi Guerra managed to get his head to the ball without any serious opposition left some worrying signs in the Camp Nou, but the team would react shortly after and get back on the winning track they’ve been walking through since the beginning of the season.

Only 4 minutes after Valladolid‘s goal, Barça equalised the game through a superb goal from Alexis Sánchez. The Chilean player received a pass from Tello, took his time to prepare his shot and fired a true rocket that only stopped in the back of the net. The 2-1 came on only in the second-half, in a typical play that we’ve been used to see Barça doing. The Blaugrana exchanged a few passes near Valladolid‘s penalty-area, Neymar touched it over to Tello on the left and the Spaniard assisted Xavi in the middle for an easy but classy finish from the 33-year old.

The 3-1 had Neymar playing an important role once more, as the Brazilian assisted Alex Sánchez for his second of the night. The former Udinese forward was let alone with only the goalkeeper in front of him to get past and managed to struck the ball past Diego Mariño without much trouble. Finally and only 6 minutes later that 3rd goal, Neymar got to score his second goal in the Spanish League. This time the roles inverted and it was Alexis Sánchez finding Neymar in a good position on the middle and the 21-year old kept his composure before setting the final result in 4-1 for Barcelona.

All club competitions will now go through a 2-week break, as two fixtures from the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers will be played in the days ahead. Neymar is expected to play a couple friendlies for Brazil, first against South Korea (October 12) and then again Zambia (October 15). Barcelona‘s next game will be against Osasuna for La Liga, on the 19th of October.

Sources: dailymail.co.uk

Watch all the goals and highlights video from Barcelona 4-1 Valladolid match:

Neymar and Barcelona match photos against Valladolid: