Barcelona: Bravo; Dani Alves (Montoya 64’), Marc Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano; Xavi, Sergi Roberto, Rakitic (Rafinha 67’); Messi, Luis Suárez, Pedro. 4-3-3.
Almería: Julián; Antonio Marín, Ximo Navarro, Trujillo, Casado; Thomas, Corona; Wellington Silva (Soriano 56’), Edgar (Jonathan Zongo 72’), Espinosa (Mané 79’); Thievy. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 33. Messi. Cut in from right wing and curled angled shot across Julián.
2-0. 55. Luis Suárez. Picked up Alves pass and cut in to shoot past keeper.
3-0. 74. Marc Bartra. Ran in to steer header down past Julián from Xavi corner.
4-0. 93. Luis Suárez. Got on the end of Pedro cross to turn ball in on far post.
Yellow cards: Mascherano 43’, Casado 87’.
Barcelona stay four points clear at the top of the table after a comfortable 4-0 victory over Almería on Wednesday evening. Sergi Barjuan was in charge of the visitors for the first time after Juan Ignacio Martínez was fired earlier in the week, and his team held their own early on, with Wellington Silva firing a shot wide. Messi and Xavi put Julián to the test at the other end though, and with just over half an hour on the clock Messi cut in from the right wing to curl a shot wide of the keeper. After the restart Luis Suárez made it two with another shot from the right of the area, and Rakitic and Pedro brought good saves out of Julián before Marc Bartra netted a third with a header from Xavi’s corner. Messi and Thomas both had strikes ruled out for previous fouls after that, but with the game in injury time Luis Suárez completed the scoring after Pedro set him up on a quick breakaway.