SEVEN! Suarez and Messi on fire as Barça hammer Valencia in Copa del Rey semi-final

Barcelona swept Valencia aside with four goals from Luis Suarez and three from Lionel Messi to pile the pressure on Gary Neville. 

Suarez scored twice in the opening 15 minutes before Messi added a third before half-time. Neymar then missed a penalty before the scoring resumed after the break. Messi grabbed two more and then, with two feet already stamped into the Copa del Rey final, Suarez, who now has 35 this season, grabbed another two as well. 

Luis Enrique’s side are now unbeaten in 27 games and, on this showing, are not going to be beaten any time soon. For Gary Neville and his Valencia side things aren’t looking good. They’re without a win in 11 league games, five points above the relegation zone and are now out of the cup - even if there is a second leg to come at Mestalla next week. 

The first half was as one sided as any game has been at Camp Nou this season. There was no stuttering start here, as there had been in previous wins over Malaga, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid.

Just seven minutes were on the clock when Suarez opened the scoring. Andre Gomes was guilty of overplaying in his own half and Neymar took full advantage, robbing the ball off the Valencia midfielder and sliding a perfect pass through to Suarez. It wasn’t the sort of chance the Uruguayan was going to give up.

It took just five minutes for the former Liverpool man to add his second of the night and his 33rd of the season. A lovely Sergio Busquets pass was sublimely helped back across goal by Aleix Vidal and Suarez produced a clinical finish. 

Barça continued to swarm forward. Neymar, in particular, was in typically dazzling form. Antonio Barragan may have felt embarrassed as he was beaten by the Brazilian’s tricks time and again, but better full-backs have tried and failed to stop the world’s in-form player.

Messi made it three just before the half hour mark, applying the gloss to another sumptuous Barcelona move. Andres Iniesta, Neymar and Suarez were all involved. 

It was surprising that another goal didn’t arrive before half-time as Valencia appeared increasingly lethargic and disinterested. It wasn’t for a lack of effort on Barça’s behalf, though. Suarez stole in to nick the ball from a sleeping Shkodran Mustafi and found Messi waiting in the area, but the Argentine could only find the bar. 

Neymar would then find the post on the stroke of half-time from the penalty spot. Messi collected a ball over the top with an astonishing first touch and hared down on Mat Ryan. Mustafi came flying across and did appear to at least touch the ball, but the referee deemed the challenge reckless and pointed to the spot. 

The German defender was also shown a red card, but Valencia avoided double punishment when Neymar, with a one-step run up, saw his effort rebound off the crossbar.  

Valencia trotted out early for the second half, but they didn’t seem to be more motivated. Barça’s incessant attacking continued and the biggest moment involving a visiting player featured the introduction of Denis Cheryshev. 

The Russian was responsible for Real Madrid’s elimination for getting thrown out of this competition. He played against Cadiz when he should have been suspended. It was a detail that didn’t go unnoticed by the Camp Nou crowd and they serenaded him upon his arrival on the pitch, his name bellowing around the ground. 

Almost immediately, Cheryshev had to watch Barça make it four. Ada Turan’s pass was deftly flicked on to Messi by Suarez and the Argentine drove across the area, unleashing a reverse shot which Ryan could do little about. 

And there was more to come, too. Valencia fans had probably switched off - and righty so - when Messi took advantage of some sloppy play from Dani Parejo to complete his hat-trick. Ryan’s goalkeeping was questionable, but he’d been his side’s only decent performer until that point. 

Suarez was next to complete his hat-trick, heading in an Adriano cross at the far post brilliantly. He then scored a fourth, Barça’s seventh, latching on to Arda’s pass to drive the ball in at the near post. 

There can be no doubts that, despite next week’s second leg, Barcelona will be in the Copa del Rey final. For Valencia, and especially Neville, the future is not so clear.