FC Barcelona stay just one point adrift of top spot in La Liga after beating Levante by 5-0 on Sunday. Leo Messi was the star of the show as he celebrated his 300th game in La Liga with a brilliant hat-trick. Neymar was also on target for FC Barcelona and he said after the game that Leo Messi is his best friend in the entire squad.
Neymar opened the scoring for FC Barcelona midway through the first half, but Messi stole the show by scoring a hat-trick before substitute Luis Suarez finished off the 5-0 thrashing of Levante with a phenomenal bicycle kick.
Neymar joined FC Barcelona in the summer of 2013 and has formed an excellent partnership with Leo Messi. The Brazilian said after the game that the Argentine captain has become his best friend in entire FC Barcelona squad.
“I’m very happy with the result. The other day I missed a penalty but these things happen. For me it is an honour to play alongside Messi, Luis Suarez and Pedro. Messi is the best friend I have, both at Barca and away from the football pitch.”
Neymar also denied that he had a point to prove after missing a penalty against Villarreal in Copa del Rey semi final. a It doesna t matter if I dona t scorea Neymar claimed. a Anyway, I got one today. But even if I hadna t, life goes on.a
Nymar was replaced by Luis SuA?rez after 62 minutes, and admitted that a nobody likes being substituted. I always want to play, thata s normal. Any footballer would want to play.a
FC Barcelona manageer Luis Enrique also praised the efforts of his players after a big win against Levante. However, the manager chose to downplay the importance of Leo Messia s record of hat-tricks by claiming that he wants more trophies, not records from his players.
“We played a great second half. We have plentiful resources, two ready-made players for each position. It’s this sort of environment that keeps players motivated. The win invigorates the team. For me as the manager it’s horrible not being able to give everyone playing time”, Luis Enrique explained.
Luis Suarez, who replaced Neymar in the 62nd minute, scored a brilliant goal through a bicycle kick and Luis Enrique was full of praise for the striker.
“It was a great piece of play, the switch, Adriano’s cross and SuA?rez’s superb striker’s goal. It’ll do him a world of good. Sometime goalscorers struggle to score when they’re on the pitch for 80 minutes and when they come on for 20 they score like that. It’s a big deal that he’s scored”.