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NEYM UP IN LIGHTS

Las Palmas 1 Barcelona 4: Brazilian star Neymar scored a delightful hat-trick at the Estadio Gran Canaria as Barca remain top of La Liga

The 25-year-old put in a phenomenal performance for Luis Enrique's men, as Luis Suarez added his name yet again to the score sheet

BARCELONA remain top of La Liga after a Neymar inspired hat-trick helped his side to beat Las Palmas 4-1 at the Estadio Gran Canaria.

Luis Suarez also got his name on the score sheet in the rout, as Luis Enrique's side keep up the pressure on Real Madrid who have a game in hand.

 Barcelona forward Neymar opened the scoring in the first half as tapped home into an open goal
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Barcelona forward Neymar opened the scoring in the first half as tapped home into an open goalCredit: Getty Images
 Uruguayan star Luis Suarex scored a delightful second goal of the game as he netted with a crisp chip over the goalkeeper
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Uruguayan star Luis Suarex scored a delightful second goal of the game as he netted with a crisp chip over the goalkeeperCredit: Getty Images

The match started in blistering fashion, first Lionel Messi seeing a header go narrowly over in the fifth minute, before Lucas Digne was somehow only shown a yellow card for a foul on Jese.

The Barca left-back was the last man, and brought down the Paris Saint-Germain loanee as he was racing clear on goal.

Luis Enrique's side's relentless pressure finally paid off when Neymar broke the deadlock in the 25th minute as he tapped home after Luis Suarez unselfishly rolled the ball in his path.

Just three minutes later the roles were reversed, as the Brazilian star set the former Liverpool man through on goal, and he beautifully dinked the ball over the onrushing Javi Varas.

 Barcelona players celebrate Luis Suarez's goal as they went into the half-time break two goals ahead of Las Palmas
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Barcelona players celebrate Luis Suarez's goal as they went into the half-time break two goals ahead of Las PalmasCredit: Getty Images
 Lionel Messi was unlucky not to have scored in the first half as he missed a header in the fifth minute of the match
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Lionel Messi was unlucky not to have scored in the first half as he missed a header in the fifth minute of the matchCredit: Getty Images

Las Palmas came out fighting in the second half, with Kevin-Prince Boateng seeing a header go wide of the near post in the 49th minute.

Jese then nearly pulled one back after his volley forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen in a fine save low down, before Pedro Bigas gave his side a glimmer of hope when he netted in the 63rd minute.

The 26-year-old converted past the German goalkeeper after Boateng put in an inviting cross in the middle of the box.

 Neymar scored with a perfect header for his second of the evening at the Estadio Gran Canaria
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Neymar scored with a perfect header for his second of the evening at the Estadio Gran CanariaCredit: Getty Images
 The Brazilian celebrates restoring his side's two-goal cushion over Las Palmas in La Liga
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The Brazilian celebrates restoring his side's two-goal cushion over Las Palmas in La LigaCredit: Getty Images

However their lead didn't last for long as Neymar scored his second of the match in the 67th minute, as he headed the ball into the far corner after getting on the end of an Ivan Rakitic delivery.

It was 4-1 just four minutes later after the 25-year-old completed his hat-trick in impressive style, slotting past Varas after latching onto a Jordi Alba through ball.

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