Neymar inspires Barca to eighth win on trot

Barcelona continued their storming start to La Liga as they came from behind to beat Valladolid 4-1 and register an eighth win in eight games. Real Madrid, meanwhile, remain five points behind but needed two injury time goals from Alvaro Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo to win 3-2 away to Levante. Barca were without World Player of the Year Lionel Messi due to a thigh injury, but his absence wasn’t noticed thanks to another fanstastic performance by Neymar. Javi Guerra had headed Valladolid into a shock 10th minute lead, but Alexis Sanchez responded with a stunning strike just four minutes later to level. Neymar then took over as he fed Cristian Tello, who in turn cut the ball back for Xavi to make it 2-1 just after the break. The Brazilian was involved again in the third goal as he released Sanchez to slot home his second of the evening 25 minutes from time. Sanchez returned the favour six minutes later to allow Neymar to register his third Barcelona goal. Real also had to come from behind, but were made to work far harder for the three points as they salvaged their faltering La Liga title hopes with two late goals at the Ciutat de Valencia. With Carlo Ancelotti’s men trailing 2-1 entering stoppage time, Morata slotted home from close range before Ronaldo’s effort deflected in off the inside of the post with virtually the last kick of the game to hand Madrid victory. Baba Diawara had fired the hosts into a deserved lead 12 minutes after the break, only for Sergio Ramos to level four minutes later. Nabil El Zhar then thought he had handed Joaquin Caparros’ men all three points with a fine finish four minutes from time before the late drama. “The victory was very important because it was a very difficult game,” said Ancelotti. “But we didn’t give up and we had the will to fight till the end. “The game was complicated by us giving away two goals when we needed better concentration and more cover.”