Neymar scores a spectacular dribble, Barca take sole possession of the top spot in La Liga.

The Neymar-Suarez strike partnership continued its impressive form when they hosted Villarreal in La Liga's 11th round on the evening of November 8th.

Suarez and Roberto celebrate after Neymar (center) scored a spectacular goal. Photo: Reuters

Result: Barca 3-0 Villarreal

Goals: Neymar 60', 85', Suarez 70' (penalty)

Neymar scored a brace against Villarreal, including a stunning goal that sealed the victory. In that goal, the Barcelona number 11 striker executed a quick and skillful chip over his opponent, completely deceiving Jaume Costa of the visiting team, before unleashing a precise volley to beat goalkeeper Areola.

Thanks to a brace from Neymar and a penalty converted by Suarez, Barca secured a crucial victory in Round 11 of the Spanish league. Following this match, with 27 points, the defending champions maintain their sole lead at the top of the table. Real Madrid can only equal Barca's record if they beat Sevilla in the late match of the round.

Earlier this week, Barca also beat Bate Borisov 3-0, with Neymar scoring a brace and Suarez netting the other goal. The only difference between that match and the one that just ended was that Villarreal played more cleverly. With their experience from numerous Liga encounters, the "Yellow Submarine" organized their defense very effectively in the first half. The Neymar-Suarez strike partnership was almost unable to link up, while Barca's best chance in the half was missed by defender Jeremy Mathieu, whose shot hit goalkeeper Areola. It wasn't until after the break, thanks to a more dynamic attacking style, that Barca finally found the net and secured three points.

Another important reason why the defending champions couldn't shine in the first half was the quality of their midfield. While Ivan Rakitic was unavailable due to injury, Andres Iniesta's return didn't bring much positive impact. The captain still controlled the midfield but failed to create enough pressure on Villarreal's penalty area. Young Sergi Roberto played aggressively but lacked consistency, especially in situations requiring creativity and shots on goal. While the two attacking midfielders only performed at an acceptable level, the remaining member of Barca's midfield – Sergio Busquets – shone as a leader. The number 5 star not only performed well in recovering the ball and supporting the defense, but also directly assisted the opening goal in the 60th minute.

In a match where Barca continued to struggle to score due to Messi's absence, Neymar once again proved to be the savior. The number 11 opened the scoring with a quick control and finish, then sealed the victory with a spectacular goal. Besides his two beautiful goals, Neymar also played a crucial role in creating chances through his skillful dribbling down the left wing, forcing the Villarreal defense to work hard to contain him. Neymar was also the one who gave up the penalty kick to Suarez to double the lead in the 70th minute, after Munir El Haddadi was fouled inside the penalty area.

Neymar is really important to Barca.

Besides the ever-improving form of the former Brazilian football prodigy, the understanding between him and Suarez is also reaching a new level. The winning goal is proof of this: Neymar headed the ball to Suarez, then received a lofted pass before flicking the ball past the opposing defender to score. While Messi is at risk of missing the El Clasico on November 21st, the outstanding performances of the other two star forwards could give Barca added confidence against Real Madrid.

With his brace against Villarreal, Neymar also pulled ahead in the race for the Golden Boot, reaching 11 goals. Suarez is second with nine goals, while Ronaldo has only eight.

Suarez lives up to his reputation as the former Premier League's top scorer.

According to Vnexpress