Fabulous Neymar gets the job done at Las Palmas

The game began with a slow start from Barcelona as they got on the ball but could only manage a string of half-chances that did not trouble Las Palmas.

It was the hosts who looked more of a threat when the ball was threaded to Jese and Digne brought down the striker as he broke through on goal. The left-back was lucky to only get booked as he was the last man.

Luis Enrique's team continued to see most of the ball, but it wasn't till the twenty-fifth minute that they breached the home side's defence. Busquets found Iniesta brilliantly and the midfielder played a great pass for Suarez who, unselfishly rolled it over to Neymar for the Brazilian to tap it in.

And it was only two minutes later that Barcelona doubled their lead. A fantastic ball from Neymar through to Suarez who dinked the ball over Varas into an empty net.

The second half brought three goals in eight crazy minutes. First, towering centre-back Bigas turned in Boateng's low cross to attempt to turn the screw on Barca, but the visitors were clinical to cut off their wings as they were in ascendancy. Rakitic played the cross into the six-yard box and Neymar headed into the bottom corner.

And the Brazilian was quick to put the fixture out of reach for the home side when his stroked the ball past Varas with the slightest of touches to complete his hat-trick.

Barcelona did what they had to do, but their happiness was contained after Real also claimed all three points. It only remains for Barcelona to win their match against Eibar, and hope Real drop points.