First-half goals from Lionel Messi and Neymar have given Barcelona a 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga this afternoon, leaving them two points clear at the top of the table.
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Claudio Bravo had to make a save inside the opening 10 minutes when Alberto Bueno stole the ball away from the visitors to attempt a low drive, but the keeper got down well to tip it wide.
However, Barcelona soon started to dominate the possession, allowing Messi to burst through their defence and slot the ball into the back of the net, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
The Argentine was on the scoresheet three minutes later, though, when Gerard Pique got the better of the Rayo back four to set up the striker, who lobbed the ball over the keeper to find the back of the net.
Neymar doubled their lead less than a minute later after collecting a long ball forward from Munir El-Haddadi and slotting it in from a tight angle.
Munir teamed up with Neymar again shortly before half time in a bid to add a third for the Catalan side, but the young striker kept the ball for himself rather than passing to his teammate, allowing Tono to clear the danger.
The hosts made a bright start to the second half as they tried to get back into the match, but Bueno was once again denied by Bravo.
Bravo continued to come under fire, but the keeper reacted quickly to prevent Leo Baptistao from scoring the first goal of the La Liga season against Barcelona with a powerful strike.
Rayo's bid to get back into the tie was dealt a blow shortly after the hour mark when Jorge Morcillo was shown his second yellow card of the match, leaving the home side a man down for the final half hour.
The red card was quickly followed by chances for Messi and Andres Iniesta to extend Barcelona's lead, but a clearance from Roberto Trashorras and a save from Tono ensured that the home side did not fall further behind.
The visitors continued to push in the final 10 minutes, but Messi saw a couple of efforts go wide, before a Xavi free kick went just high.
There was a further chance for Messi in stoppage time, but the striker's volley from a Pique ball into the box cleared the crossbar.
The hosts ended the match with just nine men on the pitch after Javier Aquino received a second booking of the match for a late foul on Sergio Busquets.
The result sets a new La Liga record, as Barcelona have kept clean sheets in their first seven matches this season.
Sian Cowper
