Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 10y

Neymar brace, but Luis Enrique hails Lionel Messi as matchwinner

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique again hailed Lionel Messi as a matchwinner after the Argentine set up two late goals for teammate Neymar in Saturday's 2-0 La Liga win at the Camp Nou.

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Visitors Athletic were well in a game which was still scoreless past the hour mark, but Messi created two chances -- both superbly finished by substitute Neymar -- to break the Basque side's resilience.

The new Blaugrana boss told his postmatch news conference that Messi -- who has scored two and created three of Barca's six La Liga goals so far this season -- was showing in all areas of his game that he remained the world's best player.

"Messi is not just the best player in the world for the goals he scores, or for his assists, but for everything," Luis Enrique said. "He is the best player in the world even in defence, that is the perfect version of Messi. Messi is outside all praise.

"He does things you do not see even in Oliver and Benji [a childrens cartoon], or the Playstation, what he does touches the impossible. We have got used to it, but it is a delight and a privilege to have the best player in the world in your team. Without a doubt."

There was also praise for Neymar, who started the game from the bench after his international exertions last week with Brazil, but entered with the game in the balance and took his two chances with aplomb.

"I always expect the best version of every player," Luis Enrique said. "Whether it is Neymar, Sandro, Munir or whoever. My objective is for them to be the best. Obviously [the media] concentrates on the goals, but I look on more than the goals. Goals are the most difficult thing in football, but we need more things from the players who score, and they are giving us that. In effect, thanks to Leo's two assists, he scored two important goals."

Barca are now clear atop the early Primera Division table, having won their opening three games, while also keeping three consecutive clean sheets.

"It stood out how little Athletic created," Enrique added. "That shows that we were good in our high pressure and our midfield work. For that we must work for each other, and know how it is done. To win titles you need to be good in the defensive side of the game. I believe they are even beginning to enjoy it. There is nothing better than a complete team."

Barca played the game wearing their third strip, which features the red and yellow colours of the Catalan flag, to mark the 300th anniversary of the 1714 fall of the Catalan capital to Spanish and French troops.

With a vote on Catalan independence planned for the coming months, some observers have seen this as the club playing politics, a subject Luis Enrique was keen to side-step.

"I will keep my opinion [on that] to myself," the Asturian-born former Spain international said. "I stick to sporting matters and do not have much else to say."

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