Internet Desk: Barcelona extend their unbeaten run to 36 games as they whopped away Eibar 4-0 on Sunday at Eibar. Even without the suspended Neymar, the Catalans did not have to wait long to open the scoring as Munir El Haddadi latched on to a Luis Suarez cross to prod home from close range in the eighth minute. Barca then extended their lead as Ander Capa made a mistake near the halfway line and Lionel Messi picked the ball up, drove forward and fired low into the net. Messi doubled his tally with a Panenka penalty down the middle, before Luis Suarez broke, muscled two Eibar defenders out of way and fired home after being fed by Sergi Roberto. The goal was the 100th of the season to be scored by Suarez, Neymar or Messi. Barca’s lethal attacking trio of Messi (35 goals), Suarez (42) and Neymar (23) have scored a century of goals in all competitions this season. Barcelona have 72 points ahead of Atletico on 64 and Real Madrid, who romped to a 7-1 win at home to Celta Vigo helped by four goals from Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday, trail on 60. Barca extended their Spanish record unbeaten run to 36 games, which includes 30 wins. They have not lost since Oct. 3.
In another match, Atletico Madrid rally to beat Valencia 3-1 at Valencia. Two inspirational substitutions from Diego Simeone helped give Atletico Madrid a 3-1 win at Valencia that keeps the Rojiblancos within eight points of leaders Barca. Substitute Fernando Torres poked the visitors back in front on 72 minutes after Valencia forward Denis Cheryshev had cancelled out Antoine Griezmann’s opener, while Yannick Carrasco also made his mark after coming off the bench. He scored a great individual goal late on to kill off the hosts, who had had defender Aderlan Santos dismissed just minutes before.
A third successive victory sees Atletico maintain the gap to leaders Barcelona, who won earlier on Sunday, while Valencia slip down to 11th after suffering a third home defeat in the league. And there was more misery for Valencia coach Gary Neville as goal hero Cheryshev was forced off with a suspected muscle injury.