Neymar scored a goal of the season contender as Barcelona warmed up for El Clasico with a 3-0 triumph over Villarreal, their fourth straight Primera Division victory.
The Brazil forward wrapped up the win in audacious fashion in the 85th minute, collecting the ball from Luis Suarez, chipping it up while on the turn to bamboozle Jaume Costa and then volleying into the net.
Neymar had earlier opened the scoring by slotting home on the hour mark as Barca took advantage of sloppy play by Villarreal, who had stifled the champions commendably up to that point.
Ten minutes later Costa's reckless challenge on Munir El Haddadi led to a penalty which was converted by Suarez.
Barca, level on points with Real Madrid at the top of the table prior to this contest, have now won five of their last six league matches and look in good shape ahead of their trip to the Bernabeu on November 21.
That can certainly be said of strike duo Neymar and Suarez, who - now with 11 and nine league goals to their names respectively this term - continue to shine in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi.
Barca had the first real attempt on goal in the seventh minute as Suarez unleashed a shot from the edge of the box that flashed wide.
The hosts did their best to exert further pressure, but struggled to really threaten until the 27th minute when a counter attack saw Suarez tee up Jeremy Mathieu, whose low strike was well saved by Alphonse Areola with his foot.
Mathieu was booked moments later for a foul on Roberto Soldado and Villarreal then had their first effort as Denis Suarez headed tamely over.
Soldado shot wide and Samu Castillejo was presented with the best chance yet for Villarreal right at the end of the first half as he found himself through after a slip by the home defence, only to be thwarted by Claudio Bravo.
Barca's frustration seemed clear soon after the restart as Suarez and Neymar talked themselves into yellow cards.
But they continued to plug away, and after Areola had done well to keep out a Dani Alves effort and Suarez headed off-target from a free-kick, they took the lead.
The visitors gave possession away near their own box and were swiftly punished as Sergio Busquets slid the loose ball through to Neymar, who beat Areola.
As Luis Enrique's side looked to finish off the job, Areola got down to block an effort from Andres Iniesta, another Barca man who had managed to get himself booked.
And with 20 minutes to go, the second goal arrived as Costa - picking up a yellow card himself for the trouble - clattered Munir in the area and Suarez duly tucked away the resulting spot-kick.
Suarez was then denied by Areola before providing a delightful assist from which Neymar wowed the Nou Camp with his brilliant second goal.
Source: PA
