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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Feb 4, 2017 at 3.15pm UK
 
Athletic Bilbao logo

3-0

Alcacer (18'), Messi (40'), Vidal (67')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Luis Enrique praises "spectacular" Barcelona forward Neymar

Luis Enrique praises
© SilverHub
Luis Enrique insists that Neymar is a "vital" player for Barcelona, coming in the wake of controversial comments made by vice-president Jordi Mestre.

Luis Enrique has hailed the "spectacular" performance of Neymar against Athletic Bilbao following recent controversial comments aimed the Barcelona forward's way.

Barca vice-president Jordi Mestre suggested that Neymar was fouled regularly because he "often provokes defenders", before backtracking and claiming that it was not intended as a criticism of the Brazilian trickster.

Neymar responded with another solid display against Bilbao at Camp Nou on Saturday, helping his side to a comfortable 3-0 win that lifts them back into second place in La Liga, leading to praise from boss Enrique.

"Neymar did everything as normal and he was spectacular," he told reporters. "We saw a brilliant version of Neymar and he's vital for us.

"The objective of the team is to fight to help the pressure. The forwards are the first ones who go to press. In order to win trophies, you have to defend well. Leaving the goalkeeper with nothing is a good omen for us."

Neymar now has five goals and seven assists in the Spanish top flight this season, as well as a further four goals in European and domestic cup competitions.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves134181422-813
17Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
20Valencia11146817-97


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