REPORT: Neymar scores four as Barcelona get back to winning ways against Rayo

Four goals and an assist from the relentless Neymar saw Barcelona weather a second half storm from Rayo Vallecano to move level with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. 

The visitors had taken a shock lead through Javi Guerra, but there was no stopping Neymar here and the Brazilian scored two goals in each half to prove he is capable of taking centre stage with Lionel Messi still absent with a knee injury.

Luis Suarez added the fifth in a 5-2 win as Barça got back to winning ways after losing to Sevilla last time out, with Jozabed registering a late consolation for Rayo.  

Neymar’s first two goals were from penalties which he won himself and he might well have had two more in the opening 45 minutes if the referee was feeling more generous. 

Suarez then played a part in the 23-year-old’s third and fourth goals, before getting his own name on the score sheet inside the final 15 minutes. 

Ivan Rakitic and Suarez wasted early chances to give Barcelona the lead. A wonderful pass from Sergi Roberto, who was restored to a midfield position, sent Rakitic clean through, but the Croatian’s shot was straight at Toño. 

Suarez then passed up a similar opportunity, failing to take advantage of a mistake by the visitors when he fired straight at the goalkeeper.

Barça were soon made to pay for their misses. Gerard Pique failed to push up from a corner, allowing Bebe to stay onside and deliver a dangerous cross across the six-yard box. Guerra was the quickest to react, turning the ball over the line as an eery hush fell over Camp Nou.

Since taking charge of Rayo, though, Paco Jemez has overseen six losses to Barça — shipping 26 goals in the process — so holding onto the lead never looked likely.

Neymar was causing all sorts of problems and always looked the most likely to provide the spark for Luis Enrique’s men. He’d already had one penalty appeal turned down by the time he did eventually earn a spot kick. And despite Barcelona’s problems from 12-yards this season, he cooly slotted home. 

Barça then had a goal ruled out for offside — rightly — before Sandro Ramirez blazed a good chance over and Neymar flashed a shot wide after dumping another defender on the floor. 

Minutes later, a defender then dumped the Brazilian on the floor, with a second penalty duly awarded. Once again, the outcome never looked in doubt as Neymar sent Toño the wrong way. 

And he probably should have had a third spot kick before the break. After taking an outrageous — if a little bit indulgent — touch on the left flank, he burst into the box and was quite clearly fouled. Maybe the referee felt he’d already awarded too many penalties for one half? 

Sergio Roberto came close to a third for Barça before the break — Toño tipping his shot around the post — but it was Rayo dominated the early part of the second half. 

Claudio Bravo was a busy man, first saving from Guerra and then producing a stunning double stop from Lass Bangoura and Patrick Ebert as the away side swarmed forward at every opportunity. 

The Chilean stopper then pushed a high ball behind for a corner as Barça forgot what defending entailed, before Lass rifled into the side netting from inside the area. 

Lass, like Neymar in the first half, was a real threat with his pace. He perhaps should have done better when he was played through after the hour, but he took one too many touches and his eventual shot was blocked by Jordi Alba. 

With the game heading into final 20 minutes, Jemez saw the game grabbed away from his side as Neymar killed off the match with two quick fire goals. 

He was on hand to rifle home his hat-trick from close range after Suarez’s shot had been saved by Toño and moments later he had his fourth with a tap-in following some unselfish play from Suarez.   

Neymar then turned provider, producing a pinpint cross for Suarez to tuck home at the far post, with Jozabed then grabbing a goal in the dying stages of the match as Barcelona took their foot of the gas.