Neymar at the double as Barcelona ease past Bate

Goals from Neymar and Luis Suarez helped Barcelona to ease past BATE Borisov 3-0 in their Champions League clash this evening.

The hosts dominated the first half, as Luis Suarez dragged an early shot wide, before BATE goalkeeper Syarhey Chernik denied Neymar in a one-on-one opportunity. Barcelona were awarded a penalty on the half-hour mark as Munir was brought down by Filip Mladenovic in the box.

Neymar took the spot kick, and fired past Chernik to give the hosts the lead. Adriano came close to doubling his side’s lead late in the first half, as the left-back struck the post from inside the BATE penalty area, before Neymar headed over the bar from a Daniel Alves cross.

After the break the hosts continued to control proceedings, as Andreas Iniesta saw an effort diverted away for a corner, before Munir tested Chernik with a driven shot. Barcelona doubled their lead on the hour mark, as Neymar found Suarez inside the penalty area, before the former Liverpool man beat his marker to find the bottom corner of the goal.

The hosts almost found a third goal moments later, as Chernik denied Neymar with an impressive save, before Marc Bartra headed over the bar from an inviting Neymar cross. The Champions League holders added a third goal on 83 minutes, as Suarez beat the offside trap before playing in Neymar, who placed the ball into the back of the net.