La Liga: In form Neymar strikes twice as Barcelona defeated Villarreal

Neymar scored twice and Luis Suarez added another to again lead Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Villarreal that provisionally lifted the defending champions to the top of the Spanish league.

The in form Neymar who leads La Liga scoring chart with 11 goals, opened the scoring with a critical finish having been set by a defence-splitting path from Sergio Busquets.

Barcelona needed an hour of insistent attack until Neymar brokes through before Suarez added a penalty in the 70th minute. Neymar scored an exquisite second goal when he used a subline touch to flip the ball over the defender before spinning and driving it home.

One this is cleared that both Neymar and Suarez are giving Barcelona's fans hope that they won't need Messi to get a good result.

Villarreal neutralized Barcelona's superior possession in the first half with a discipline defense that bent but refused to break. Jeremy Mathiue, starting for the suspended Javier Mascherano had Barcelona's best chance in the first 45 minutes when they drew a save from Alphonse Areola on a counter attack.

Villarreal's patience almost paid off when Samuels Castillejo got behind Jordi Alba and tested Claudio Bravo seconds before half time. But Villarreal, which was left in fifth place after a third away game without a win could not keep up as Barcelona poured forward.