Messi, Neymar and Suarez all score as Barcelona hammer Elche in Copa del Rey first leg

At least we still have the football. In a week which has been dominated by a strained relationship, a sacking and the summoning of an election, Barcelona were able to sweep everything to one side for 90 minutes as they swept Elche aside 5-0 in the Copa del Rey. 

Neymar scored the first, Luis Suarez the second and Lionel Messi the third as Luis Enrique's side manoeuvred into a three goal lead by the interval. That all three were playing was particularly poignant on this occasion. Given all the noise away from the pitch, Barca came into this side unnecessarily needing a big performance and a big result.

Jordi Alba added the fourth after the break and Neymar's second goal of the night completed the rout. Elche didn't even threaten to work Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the Barca goal and the return leg at the Manuel Martínez Valero next week will be a dead rubber. 

Behind his three big hitting attackers, Luis Enrique moved enough pieces around to ensure he recorded his 26th different lineup in his 26th official match in charge of the club. It was a strong team, though, and Messi, wearing the captain's armband, produced a display of real quality.

The Argentine has been in the press for a lot of the wrong reasons this week and a move to England's Premier League has even been talked about. He played a part in Barca's first goal here, combining with Sergio Roberto and Suarez - although it was the Uruguayan who played the final pass which resulted in Neymar opening the scoring - before going on to dazzle with his often underrated array of passing.

Suarez got the second and it was a real treat. He spun his marker, dummied inside Enzo Roco and buried the ball in the Tyton's bottom corner. It was his fourth goal in a blaugrana shirt and it was celebrated as dramatically as the previous three. Any doubts over his happiness seem unfounded.

Messi's precise pass then sent Neymar galloping clean through, but the Brazilian was cut down in his stride. The referee had no choice but to award Barca their first penalty at Camp Nou in well over 250 days. Making no mistake from the spot, Messi sent Tyton the wrong way. For the second time this season, him, Suarez and Neymar were all on the scoresheet. 

An unlikely source added the fourth, but Barca's familiar No. 10 was at the heart of it. Messi's angled pass found Alba, who'd been a menace for Damian Suarez on the right all night, and the left-back took a touch before slotting home.

Neymar then added his second of the night, chesting down a cross-field pass from Messi before rifling home from the edge of the box, before being replaced by Pedro. There were also run outs for Adriano and Sergi Samper from the bench as Luis Enrique watched his players ease over the line. 

Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid will be waiting in the quarter-final. First up, though, there's the small matter of Atletico's trip to Camp Nou on Sunday. Fasten your seat belts.