Barcelona manager Enrique refuses to rein in Neymar

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid keep up pace at top of Primera Liga with comprehensive victories

Neymar, right, of Barcelona scores during the Copa del Rey quarter-final second-leg match against Atletico Madrid at Vicente Calderon Stadium on January 28, 2015, in Madrid, Spain. Gonzalo Arroyo MorShow more

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has told Neymar to carry on regardless after the Brazilian received criticism for provoking Atletico Madrid players with his “nutmegging and talking”.

Juanfran and Fernando Torres argued with two-goal Neymar at half-time in Barca’s midweek Copa del Rey quarter-final victory while opposition captain Gabi Fernandez was red carded after a fracas in the tunnel.

Atletico substitute Ruben Cani said after the game that "one day he will have problems for his style of play, the nutmegging and talking".

Luis Enrique went on the counter-attack on Saturday when he said there was nothing wrong.

“You have to consider the player and the culture from where he is from,” Enrique said ahead of Sunday’s Primera Liga game at home to Villarreal.

“Brazilians look to enjoy themselves playing football and it is the same for all the Brazilian players at the club. We are in a strange country where people are more offended by a nutmeg than by five dangerous tackles.

“Hopefully he can be remembered as a great player and he is certainly at the right club at the moment to achieve that. It would be great if it happened.

“Lionel Messi is the best player in the world and he has put the marker very high if he is to achieve that. If you take away football, samba and so on, then a Brazilian is no longer Brazilian.”

Barca are four points behind leaders Real Madrid in the league and face a tough clash against sixth-placed Villarreal, who are on an 18-match unbeaten run.

“They move the ball around well, they have strong defensive tactical discipline. They are doing very well at the moment and we will try and break their run although it will be difficult,” Enrique said. “The team is continually in evolution and we change depending on how we cause most problems for the opposition. This is down to whether we are against a side which is defending deeply or one that comes out to attack us.

“The key for us is to have different options to play and not be predictable.”

If Barca beat Villarreal they will move within a point of Real Madrid at the top of the table, after the leaders recovered from conceding in the first minute to beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at home.

With Cristiano Ronaldo missing through suspension, Madrid were stunned in the first minute when Aritz Elustondo headed the visitors into a shock lead, but they were level almost instantly when James Rodriguez nodded home.

Sergio Ramos handed the hosts a deserved 2-1 lead at half-time before Karim Benzema scored twice after the break.

“It was a very quick goal, but we knew how to react and turn the scoreline around. We need to keep improving, but it was a deserved result,” Ramos said.

“After the start of the year we haven’t had a good run, but I would prefer it to happen now than at the end of the season. There is still a long way to go and we remain at the top.”

Sociedad manager David Moyes, meanwhile, said he was powerless in his attempts to narrow the gulf between the two sides.

“I think we came and tried to be brave on the ball,” he said. “We had a great start to the game, but you have to look at the difference in the quality in the two teams and squads.”

Atletico Madrid kept up their pursuit of the top two with a 3-1 victory away at Eibar.

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