Captain absent, four-star Neymar fills the void for Barcelona in beat down at Camp Nou

Neymar, left, scored four goals as Barcelona recovered from a goal down to beat Rayo Vallecano. Josep Lago / AFP

BARCELONA // Neymar scored four times to become the Primera Liga's top goalscorer as Barcelona beat the always adventurous Rayo Vallecano 5-2 at Camp Nou.

Rayo’s manager Paco Jemez promised that his side would go toe-to-toe with Barca and his merry band of entertainers did just that. Jemez’s players, the majority of which he assembles at the start of each season, think that attack is the best form of defence.

They go where few dare at Camp Nou, pressing high, with five of their players regularly around the opponents’ box.

Rayo’s courage and adventure was awarded when they went ahead before succumbing to the inevitable gulf in talent.

Barca have struggled to convince without the injured Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta and had gone seven games without a clean sheet, compared to keeping seven of those at the start of last season.

That became eight after 15 minutes when former Manchester United player Bebe, who was played onside by another former United player Gerard Pique, crossed for Javi Guerra to finish from close range.

Rayo’s lead didn’t last long. Despite going behind, Barca had been on top from the start.

COMMENT: As another record falls, Ronaldo and Messi continue to drive each other to greater heights

DIEGO FORLAN: Globalisation erasing Messi and Neymar fear factor and levelling field

Ivan Rakitic should have given his side the lead after five minutes when he went one on one against Tono Martinez, but the Rayo goalkeeper got his foot to the Croatian’s shot.

The former Racing Santander keeper did the same four minutes later from a Luis Suarez shot.

Rayo broke forward, as they often do, and went ahead, but their lead lasted five minutes.

Neymar was brought down after 20 minutes by Diego Llorente. The Brazilian got up to take the penalty and did so without a run up. Neymar’s shot along the floor sent Tono the wrong way. Barca’s No 11 thought he’d scored again after 23 minutes, but his curled shot was met by an offside flag.

In a hugely enjoyable encounter, it was less than a minute before the Catalans had another clear goal chance, this one squandered by Sandro.

Given that the last three matches between the pair had finished 15-2 on aggregate, including 6-1 last season, it was no surprise that opportunities continued to arise. Messi had scored seven of those goals, but with their captain absent it was up to Neymar and Suarez, plus Sandro, 20, to step up.

Neymar shot wide after 28 minute before he took another penalty in the 31st minute after being fouled by Nacho.

Again, the Brazilian didn’t take a run up, again he placed his shot neatly along the ground — this time to the opposite corner.

It was Barca’s seventh penalty of the season, the same number as they were awarded in the whole of last season. They should have been awarded a third penalty when Neymar was fouled again, but it wasn’t given the score stayed 2-1 at the break.

It stayed like that until the 69th minute when Neymar made it 3-1, following in on a Suarez shot that has been saved by Tono.

After Daniel Alves has pretended to polish his boots, Neymar made it 4-1 30 seconds later when Suarez unselfishly squared him the ball allowing the Brazilian to become La Liga’s top scorer with eight.

Neymar returned the favour with a 76th-minute cross which Suarez finished to make it five before, Jozabed scored Rayo’s second four minutes from time.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE