IRELAND TAKE ON BOSNIA IN EURO 2016 PLAYOFF
STEAMROLLED In Argentine’s absence, Neymar holds sway with a four-goal burst against hapless Rayo Vallecano 5 4 45% 9 8 7 7 1 0 6 5 55% 14 8 15 10 3 2 0 4
BARCELONA: Neymar was delighted after netting his first four-goal haul, including two penalties, in Barcelona’s 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.
It was one of the 23-year-old’s best performances since joining Barca in 2013 as the Spanish and European champions fought back from 1-0 down at the Nou Camp.
After they fell behind in the 15th minute, Neymar won and converted a pair of spot kicks and added two more goals in the second period before teeing up Luis Suarez to score a fifth for the home side late on.
He is the first Barca player other than Lionel Messi to score four in a match since Samuel Eto’o in 2008 and his eight goals in La Liga this term are helping offset the impact of Messi’s absence through injury.
One piece of skill particularly caught the eye on Saturday when Neymar feinted to go one way and tapped the ball through the legs of Nacho before the Rayo defender stuck out a leg and felled the Brazilian to concede a spot kick.
“I can’t explain how I do things, it would be giving away clues,” Neymar told Spanish television when asked about his brilliant move. “It all comes from practising many times,” he added.
“I am very pleased with the win and for how we played. Rayo are a great team and it cost us a lot to beat them.”
CELTA JOIN BIG TWO Barca’s victory put the champions level on 18 points with Real after eight matches.
On Sunday, Celta Vigo joined the Spanish giants on 18 points at the top of La Liga when Spain winger Nolito pounced with a late winner to secure a 2-1 victory at 10-man Villarreal, who were top heading into the weekend.
Real Betis 1 Rennella 89 On Sunday Villarreal 1 Suarez 67
Real Sociedad 0
Atletico 2 Griezmann 9 Ferreira-Carrasco 90+1
Celta Vigo Barcelona Atletico Villarreal
8 8 8 8 5
5 6 5 5
Espanyol 3 Roco 4 Caicedo 51, Sanchez 55
Celta Vigo 2 Orellana 41 Nolito 90 3 0 16 18
3 0 9 0 2 6 1 2 8 1 2 6
18 18 16 16
Neymar has been involved in the La Liga this season which is more than any other player. He has scored eight and assisted one
Neymar scored against Rayo on Saturday. He is the first Brazilian since Julio Baptista in 2004 to score four in a match PARIS: The Republic of Ireland will need to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina to reach the Euro 2016 finals in France next year following Sunday’s draw for the play-offs.
Martin O’Neill’s side took third place in Group D behind world champions Germany and Poland, and that was enough to earn them a spot in one of the four play-off ties to decide the final qualifiers for the 24-team tournament.
Bosnia were third in Group B behind Belgium and Wales.
“If there is any slight advantage to be had for us, it’s that the second game is in Dublin,” O’Neill told the UEFA website.
“We need to perform out in Bosnia to make sure that the second game in Dublin means something. We have a chance.
“We had terrific results against Germany, the draw out in Germany and a home win, we can draw real confidence from it.”
Ireland have met Bosnia just once before, with the Irish winning 1-0 courtesy of a Shane Long header in May 2012.
They reached Euro 2012 via a play-off win over Estonia.
Nolito (Celta Vigo), Borja Baston (Eibar), Imanol Agirretxe
(Real Sociedad)
Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Bilbao), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), Lucas (Deportivo Coruna), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Javi Guerra (Rayo Vallecano), Ruben Castro (Real Betis) Neymar 22-p, 32-p, 69, 70, Suarez 76 TOTAL POSSESSION GOAL ATTEMPTS Off target On target FOULS CORNERS OFFSIDES YELLOW CARDS RED CARDS SAVES Guerra 14, Jozabed 86 Off target On target