Barcelona coach Luis Enrique stated that his team deserves their current position at the top of La Liga following their 6-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick, tying with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in the top scorer race, while Luis Suarez netted twice and Gerard Pique also scored.
Current Standings ¶
With 62 points, Barcelona leads La Liga, having scored the most goals (76) and conceded the fewest (16). This comes after Real Madrid suffered a 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Luis Enrique emphasized that the team cannot relax, as there may be more upsets before the end of the season. He said,
The objective is to be top when the season ends. I always said the big teams would suffer defeats, and it will keep happening. So we must remain on guard. We have earned the situation we are in now.
Messi's hat-trick included a penalty, which was retaken due to encroachment from a Rayo player. Despite missing three penalties from six this season, Luis Enrique confirmed that Messi remains the club's first-choice penalty taker.
Team Dynamics ¶
Luis Enrique praised the chemistry between Messi and Suarez, saying,
Luis and Messi understand each other well — better all the time. They have good chemistry and them linking up is good for the team.
Suarez has now scored in four consecutive games, and the suspended Neymar was not missed. However, Barca right-back Dani Alves was sent off late in the game for a professional foul, leading to a penalty goal for Rayo.
Upcoming Matches ¶
Luis Enrique faces a challenging selection for the upcoming game against Eibar, given the absence of Sergio Busquets due to an ankle injury and the risk of Javier Mascherano missing the clasico against Madrid on March 22 if he receives a yellow card.
Barcelona's season is gaining momentum, with the team qualifying for the Copa del Rey final and holding a 2-1 lead in the Champions League last-16 second leg against Manchester City.
