Barcelona's Gerard Pique: Neymar is a magical player

Gerard Pique labelled Neymar "magical" after the Brazilian produced another masteclass in Barcelona's win over Villarreal. 

Neymar opened the scoring in the 4-1 win but it was his trickery in the second half which really excited Camp Nou on Saturday. 

"He is a player with exceptional characteristics," Pique said. "He's magical, although we're in an era in which it seems that magic is penalised and perhaps it's seen as better to give [someone] a kick than to provide a spectacle. Players like Neymar make football much better." 

Barca's win kept them in the hunt for the title and Pique is still hopeful that Real Madrid will slip up. 

"At this stage of the season all games are tough, although it's true that due to their status and their standing in the table Villarreal are even tougher," he added.

"However, now we have to play in Las Palmas, which is a long journey and they can punish you if you don't play well. 

"Scoring at the end of the first half can affect both teams, [it affected] us positively. We produced a great perfoamnce against a Villarreal side who don't concede many goals. We can be happy."