体坛英语新闻：Neymar, Messi gift Barca 3 points in Vallecas

MADRID, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona ensured they will go into the international break as leaders off the BBVA Primera Liga on Saturday as they defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-0 in Rayo's Vallecas Stadium.

The victory means Barca have dropped just two points all season and have yet to concede a goal in their first seven league matches this campaign.

Rayo remained true to their attacking instincts and looked to take the game to a Barca side which included Xavi Hernandez in the starting 11 and saw Jeremy Mathieu start the game at left back.

However, the Madrid based outfit committed the serious mistake of pushing their central defenders forward to the halfway line where they were exposed to the pace of Leo Messi, Neymar and Munir and Rayo paid the price when first Leo Messi and then Neymar scored in rapid succession on 35 and 36 minutes.

Messi opened the scoring moments after he had seen a goal ruled out for offside, but Rayo didn't learn from the let off and he ran through unopposed again to open the scoring.

Neymar doubled the lead with a low right foot shot after being set up by Munir and the game tilted Barca's way.

It was not all plain sailing, for the Catalans, however and Claudio Bravo back in goal for Ter Stegen, pulled off a brilliant save to deny the in-form Leo Baptistao.

Things should have got easier for Barca on the hour mark when Rayo were reduced to 10 men following the second yellow card for defender Jorge Morcillo, but the home side never let their heads drop and Bravo was again forced into action by Baptistao as plenty of the game was still being played in the Barca half

Messi should have assured the win 10 minutes from time but after twisting his way into the Rayo area he fired his right foot shot over the bar with just Rayo keeper, Tono to beat and then did the same with his left foot in the last minute.