Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Clasico won't decide title race, says Barcelona coach Luis Enrique

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique set his side the aim of using next weekend's clasico at Real Madrid to open a seven-point gap over their rivals, when speaking after Saturday evening's 3-0 La Liga win at home to Eibar.

After a goalless first half, Barca eventually made the breakthrough when Messi set up Xavi Hernandez to score early in the second period. Neymar and Messi himself added further goals as the home side maintained their four point advantage over Madrid ahead of next weekend's first clasico of the season.

The blaugrana coach said in his post-match news conference that the idea was to win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, but even still the result next week would not decide the title race.

"The ideal scenario for us would be if Madrid had zero points and us what we have," Luis Enrique said. "There is such a long time left in the championship, it will not be decisive. We will go to the Bernabeu to win as we always do, especially in recent times, and to be better than Madrid. That is what we set out to do. But we also do that against Ajax. Now I want them to rest, to focus and to be ready."

Messi's superbly taken strike, after a one-two with Neymar, moved the Argentine to 250 career La Liga goals, and he is now just one behind former Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra.

While it is now quite possible that the Argentine will break or at least match the record at Madrid next week, his coach said nothing could really add extra motivation for a blaugrana player or fan going to the Bernabeu.

"I have seen Messi with the same intensity and motivation since the first day I saw him train," the former Barca midfielder said. "For a 'cule' there is no greater motivation than to play at the Bernabeu."

Newly promoted Eibar acquitted themselves well on their first ever visit to the Camp Nou and had two clear chances to score before the break, before Barca eventually found a way to win.

"What Eibar are doing is marvellous to me," Luis Enrique said. "The club is a reflection of its coach and its players. It is brave, daring, hardworking. We had spoken before the game about this, that Eibar are not here by chance. They can have a great season."

But Barca's defence survived and they now go to the Bernabeu next weekend having not conceded even once in their first eight La Liga games this season, something Luis Enrique claimed was a secondary concern well behind winning each match.

"I am delighted not to concede goals," he said. "But the objective in a game is not to not concede, it is to win. It is normal for the opponent to make some chances. We were more consistent in the second half."

Barca right-back Dani Alves was again to the fore with a full 20 crosses during the game. While one of which was volleyed in by Neymar for the second goal, many less accurate others brought groans from frustrated fans, but Luis Enrique said he was delighted with the Brazil international's contribution.

"If we can go forward 25 times on the right and 25 on the left [the numbers] will go up," he said. "It does not exasperate me, he is a useful player, the best in his position. He crossed many times, he helps us, and he has bestial intensity. I am more than happy with him. He is a vital player for us."

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