Suarez, Neymar keep Barca on track, Madrid stay on top


Barcelona kept pace with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga on Saturday as Luis Suarez and Neymar once again compensated for the absence of Lionel Messi with a goal apiece in a 2-0 win at Getafe. Madrid were comfortable 3-1 winners over Las Palmas thanks to goals from Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese Rodriguez. Neymar and Suarez have now combined for Barca's last 14 league goals since Messi went down with knee ligament damage over a month ago. However, it was Sergi Roberto who shone brightest for Barca as his stunning backheel assist freed Suarez for the opener before also crossing for Neymar to volley home the second to cap off a rapid counter-attack. "I think we played a very intelligent game," Suarez told Canal Plus. "We controlled the ball during the whole game and tried to find the space we could." However the former Liverpool man denied he and Neymar's relationship was making it easy to forget Messi in his absence. "People remember him just as well because he is the best player in the world." Madrid also enjoyed an easy afternoon despite missing a host of star names against La Liga newcomers Las Palmas. "We played very well again in the first-half. We started the game sensationally well and then maybe with the advantage our tempo dropped in the second-half," said Madrid boss Rafael Benitez. "But we controlled the game in the second-half thanks to our good play in the first." Elsewhere, Celta Vigo moved ahead of Atletico Madrid into third as they twice came from behind to defeat David Moyes's Real Sociedad 3-2 at Anoeta.