TURIN, Nov 23: Chelsea advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League with a game to spare after beating 10-man Qarabag 4-0 on Wednesday, securing manager Antonio Conte’s 50th victory in all competitions with the Blues.

Barcelona needed only a point to reach the Round of 16 and the Spanish superpower got exactly that against Juventus. A 0-0 draw at last year’s runner-up was enough to ensure top spot in Group D.

Already through, Paris Saint-Germain conceded the first goal of its European campaign in the first minute – before then unleashing its unstoppable firepower to thrash Celtic 7-1 in Paris.

A goalless draw at Basel would have been enough for Manchester United to top Group A, but the Premier League club slipped to its first group stage loss, going down 1-0 to a goal conceded just a minute from time.

GROUP A

Manchester United was deservedly beaten 1-0 by a spirited Basel, leaving all the qualification places open with one game remaining. Basel defender Michael Lang struck in the 89th minute to earn a win for the Swiss champion.

Still, United leads the standings with 12 points, three clear of both Basel and CSKA Moscow, which earlier won 2-0 at home to last-place Benfica.

In the final round on Dec. 5, Basel plays at last-place Benfica, and United hosts CSKA.

Georgy Shchennikov gave CSKA an early lead, despite an apparent offside. Then an own goal from Jardel ensured that Benfica — which is eliminated — suffered its fifth defeat in five Champions League games.

GROUP B

Neymar scored twice and set up another goal as Paris Saint-Germain produced its biggest Champions League win to extend its perfect record in the group stage this season.

PSG leads Group B with 15 points, three more than Bayern Munich, which won 2-1 at Anderlecht. Both PSG and Bayern are guaranteed a spot in the knockout phase and will battle for group supremacy on Dec. 5.

Celtic forward Moussa Dembele surprised the hosts with his first minute goal, but PSG responded with four goals in the first half – two from Neymar, one from Edinson Cavani and the other from Kylian Mbappe.

The one-way traffic continued after the break with Cavani scoring again to take his career total with PSG to 151, while Marco Verratti and Dani Alves also found the net.

GROUP C

Following a humbling 3-0 loss in Rome, Willian led Chelsea’s efforts to get its European campaign back on track, scoring a goal in each half and winning a penalty.

Eden Hazard made it 1-0 from the penalty spot in the 21st minute, calmly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Home team captain Rashad F. Sadygov had received a straight red card for tugging back Willian just inside the area as the Chelsea forward ran onto Eden Hazard’s pass.

Hazard then fed Willian with a back-heel pass to make it 2-0 in the 37th.

Qarabag, the first club from Azerbaijan to reach the group stage of the Champions League, had no better luck in the second half. Cesc Fabregas scored from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute and Willian added his second goal, a drive from 20 meters, five minutes from time.

Antoine Griezmann found the net with a stunning overhead kick as Atletico Madrid defeated Roma 2-0 to keep alive its hopes of advancing.

Substitute Kevin Gameiro scored the second to seal Atletico’s first Champions League victory this season.

Atletico has six points, two less than Roma, with one match to play.

GROUP D

Juventus will have to wait until the final round to try and qualify for the knockout stages. The Italian side remained second in the group but is only a point above Sporting Lisbon, which beat Olympiakos 3-1.

The Italian side — which reached the final in two of the last three seasons — next visits Olympiakos, while Sporting travels to Barcelona.

Barcelona, which rested Lionel Messi until the 56th minute, went closest to breaking the deadlock when Ivan Rakitic hit the post with a free kick.

In Portugal, Bas Dost scored a goal in each half for Sporting Lisbon. Bruno Cesar added the third while Vadis Odjidja scored the consolation goal for Olympiakos. AP

BARCELONA, Oct 29: Lionel Messi scored again and Barcelona won again, though in lackluster fashion and by 2-0 at Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league on Saturday.

Messi netted his 12th league goal in the first half, and Paulinho in added time.

“Leo has an incredible capability to tilt the scale. We are lucky to have the world’s best player with us,” coach Ernesto Valverde said.

The Catalan club’s ninth win in 10 rounds strengthened its lead back to a four-point cushion over Valencia.

Valencia won at Alaves 2-1, its seventh straight in all competitions, thanks to Simone Zaza’s opening goal before halftime.

The Italian striker trailed only Messi on the goal-scoring list with eight, but it was teammate Rodrigo Moreno who notched the game-winner with a penalty shot in the second half.

Atletico Madrid was still undefeated and ranked fourth after notching its fifth draw, 1-1 at home versus Villarreal.

Atletico hasn’t lost in 14 straight games and faces another pressure match on Tuesday, against Qarabag in the Champions League.

MESSI BY THE DOZEN

Messi again showcased his multi skillset with a dazzling display of playmaking and finishing while leading Barcelona to another league win.

The Argentine star first volleyed a long shot into Kepa Arrizabalaga’s hands, later hit the near post after combining with Luis Suarez and dribbling by the goalkeeper, and finally scored on a low one-tap strike after a cross from left back Jordi Alba.

Messi initialized the scoring play and also assisted Paulinho on a clear chance that the Brazilian whiffed on, hitting the crossbar.

But Aritz Aduriz’s miss was more costly for Bilbao, which could have taken the lead in the early going if its top striker had been able to beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen one-on-one.

Barcelona capitalized on a Messi-led counterattack and shot by Suarez, which the keeper was unable to corral, and Paulinho pounced on for the empty-netter.

SIZZLIN’ ZAZA

After a slow start to the season, Zaza has scored in six consecutive matches.

Valencia has won six straight in La Liga, outscoring opponents 23-8. It was coming off a 2-0 win over second-division club Zaragoza in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday.

ATLETICO BLOWs IT

Antoine Griezmann had the best early chance for Atletico when he hit the post, and Saul Niguez was unable to cash in the rebound, stuffed by defender Victor Ruiz in the goalmouth. And just before halftime, a powerful header by Diego Godin forced a brilliant save from Mariano Barbosa.

Unable to score, Griezmann excelled as a playmaker in the second half, and lobbed a one-touch pass towards forward Angel Correa, who deftly controlled the ball on the run and swiped a strike between the keeper’s left shoulder and the nearest post for the lead.

It could have been two for Atletico had Kevin Gameiro done the same shortly after, but he shot straight at Barbosa and the miss proved costly.

“We couldn’t close it,” Correa said. “We were unlucky.”

Carlos Bacca tied the score with 10 minutes left when he outjumped Godin on a corner cross and beat a retreating Jan Oblak.

“Atletico had to come out and dominate, but we played well and made it a close game,” Bacca said. “The draw is good for us.”

SEVILLA NOW SIXTH

Sevilla beat Leganes 2-1 and climbed over the latter into sixth spot.

PARIS, Aug 4: Six years after taking over perennial underachiever Paris Saint-Germain, the French club’s wealthy owners finally got what they wanted by hiring Neymar — a player they believe will bring them Champions League glory.

The Brazil star became the most expensive player in soccer history after completing his blockbuster transfer from Barcelona for 222 million euros ($262 million) on Thursday. By paying the release clause in his contract, PSG shattered the world transfer record to sign arguably one of the top three best attacking players in the game, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The previous transfer record had been set a year ago when Manchester United paid 105 million euros (then $116 million) to bring Paul Pogba back from Juventus.

Ironically, the 25-year-old Neymar signed a five-year contract with the French league side just five months after playing a decisive role as Barcelona produced a comeback that made Champions League history – at PSG’s expense.

Having lost their first leg match 4-0 in France, Barcelona was trailing 5-3 on aggregate in the 88th minute in Spain, only for Neymar to score twice in the final minutes before Sergi Roberto’s winner in added time sealed a humiliating exit from the Round of 16 for PSG.

Next season, it will be different.

“Paris Saint-Germain’s ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings,” Neymar said in comments released by PSG. “I played four seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge. From today, I will do everything I can to help my new teammates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world.”

PSG would certainly welcome the kind of success that Neymar enjoyed in Spain.

In his four seasons there, Neymar scored 105 goals as Barcelona won the Champions League, Club World Cup, two Spanish league titles and Copa del Rey three times.

Now he will look to emerge from the shadow of five-time world player of the year Messi at Barcelona, becoming the biggest star in the French league in a team without the track record of success to match his former club.

While Barcelona has lifted the European Cup five times and won the FIFA Club World Cup three times, PSG is yet to win either prestigious competition.

Since Qatar Sports Investments took over the club in June 2011, PSG has spent several hundred million dollars on top-class players — including the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marco Verratti and Edinson Cavani — in its effort to build a team capable of winning Europe’s top club competition.

But the big names were not enough to bring success on the continental stage, and PSG has yet to make it through the quarterfinals of the Champions League under its Qatari owners.

Maybe that’s about to change.

“I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain,” Neymar said. “Since I arrived in Europe, the club has always been one of the most competitive and most ambitious. And the biggest challenge, what most motivated me to join my new teammates, is to help the club to conquer the titles that their fans want.”

It’s a mission that is clearly shared by the club’s top management.

“Neymar Jr is today one of the very best players in world football. His winning mentality, strength of character and sense of leadership have made him into a great player,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. “He will bring a very positive energy to this club.

“In six years, we have built a very ambitious project that has already taken us to the highest level of national and European football. Today, with the arrival of Neymar Jr, I am convinced that we will come even closer, with the support of our faithful fans, to realizing our greatest dreams.”

PSG’s announcement put an end to a saga that started about two weeks ago with rumors of his possible transfer, though the club had already tried to lure him to the City of Light last summer.

Neymar is expected in Paris on Friday and will hold a news conference early in the afternoon, PSG said. He might make his debut on Saturday when PSG starts its new league campaign against promoted Amiens at the Parc des Princes.

Not surprisingly, his transfer has not gone down well in Spain.

In a statement, Barcelona said “the club will pass on to UEFA the details of the above operation so that they can determine the disciplinary responsibilities that may arise from this case.”

The comment followed a claim by Spanish league president Javier Tebas on Wednesday that Neymar’s move would break Financial Fair Play rules introduced by UEFA, European soccer’s ruling body.

Barcelona did all it could to stop Neymar from leaving, and had vowed to complain to UEFA if his seemingly untouchable release clause was triggered.

The payment of the release clause was the second attempt Neymar’s representatives had made on Thursday to break his bond with Barcelona. Earlier in the day, his lawyer Juan de Dios Crespo had tried to deposit the enormous sum at the Spanish league’s offices in Madrid, but he was turned away.

Tebas had told Spanish sports daily AS that he wouldn’t let the league act as an intermediary to an operation that he, like Barcelona, believed violated UEFA’s FFP rules. He had called PSG a “state-supported club.” The club’s Qatari owners are closely linked to the energy-rich ruling family.-AP

SANT JOAN DESPI, Aug 2: Neymar has told Barcelona that he plans to leave the club, with a blockbuster move to Paris Saint-Germain seemingly imminent.

The club said Wednesday that the Brazil striker told his teammates “that he had the intention of leaving the club and seeking his future elsewhere, and the coach has given him permission to leave training.”

PSG is rumored to be ready to pay his release clause of 222 million euros ($262 million). That would dwarf the 105 million euros (then $116 million) that Manchester United paid for France midfielder Paul Pogba last year.

Barcelona said Neymar did not specify where he wants to play next, but the only club speculated to be after him — and one of few which could handle the cost of the transfer — is the Qatari-owned PSG.

PSG did not answer messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Barcelona said Neymar left the training ground 30 minutes after arriving on Wednesday. He had arrived to Spain on Tuesday night after holding publicity events for both his personal brand and Barcelona in China.

Last year, Neymar signed a new contract with Barcelona that tied him to the Catalan club through 2021.

Both Barcelona club president Josep Bartomeu and Spanish league president Javier Tebas have said they will consider filing a complaint to UEFA if they think the PSG transfer violates financial fair play rules.

With his lightning-quick feet, creative instincts and scoring touch, Neymar helped maintain Barcelona as one of the top clubs in Europe for the past four seasons as he blossomed into a worldwide star.

He teamed up with Lionel Messi and Luis Saurez to make an almost unstoppable attack. Neymar scored 105 goals — some of them true gems — and was a key playmaker for Barcelona as it won a Champions League, two Spanish leagues, three Copa del Reys, one Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and two Spanish Super Cups.

Yet, even before this drawn-out saga, Neymar also provided more than one headache for his club.

His transfer from Brazilian club Santos in 2013 became the source of a legal dispute that has dogged Barcelona even since. Barcelona said at the time that his transfer cost 57 million euros, while an investigative judge says that the real cost was at least 83.3 million euros.

Now Bartomeu and predecessor Sandro Rosell, who resigned as president of the club amid the transfer scandal, are facing trial on charges of fraudulent administration.

Neymar has also mixed his flair for fancy goals with bouts of immaturity on the field, often needlessly taunting defenders and trying to upstage them with his dribbling skills.

But nobody doubts Neymar is one of the greatest talents of his generation.

PSG saw it first-hand in last season’s Champions League. In his most memorable performance at Camp Nou, Neymar scored two goals and set up two more to lead Barcelona to a 6-1 rout to overturn PSG’s 4-0 first-leg win in the last 16.

Unless PSG gets last-second jitters, Neymar will take over a team that is searching for a leader who can achieve elusive Champions League success.-AP

PARIS, Jul 22: Neymar’s decision to post a photo of himself in thoughtful contemplation sparked a fresh wave of speculation that he is on the verge of sealing a world record 222-million-euro ( 256.8 million) move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Instagram picture, even accompanied by a matching emoji, shows the 25-year-old Brazilian superstar stretched out on the pitch with his chin resting on his left hand.

It garnered more than 1.5 million ‘likes’ within 12 hours of it being posted in the United States where Barcelona are on a pre-season tour.

Three of the ‘likes’ came from PSG players — winger Angel Di Maria, goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and midfielder Marco Verratti.

On Tuesday, PSG skipper — and fellow Brazilian — Thiago Silva gave a digital thumbs up to a mocked-up photo montage published by media company Esporte Interativo showing Neymar in a PSG shirt along with compatriots and prospective teammates in France.

Esporte Interativo used the montage to illustrate what they insist is an agreement reached for Neymar to move to the French capital from Barcelona where he has played since 2013.

Like Barcelona, PSG are also touring the United States where Neymar’s future has dominated conversation.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde described the ongoing saga as a “time of rumors”.

“We understand it’s how it is. He is with us right now, one of us,” said Valverde in East Rutherford where his team plays Juventus in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

“He’s a player we love and we want. Not only football wise, but also for the things he brings to the locker room.

“There’s no need to worry about something we don’t know if it’s going to happen or not. If it happens in the future, we’ll see.”

PSG skipper Thiago Silva told Le Parisien newspaper he had no idea if the Brazilian star was about to switch to the French capital.

“I don’t know. I hear a lot from journalists and a player like Neymar would be an interesting addition to the PSG project,” said Thiago, speaking in Florida.

“But, for the moment, it is especially important to prepare for the new season. After and if Neymar arrives it would be a good thing for the squad.”

Is Neymar going to sign? “Not yet,” smiled the captain.

‘THE FUTURE OF THE CLUB’
In Spain, it was reported by Catalan media group RAC 1 that “certain players” at Barcelona have already tried to convince Neymar not to accept the PSG offer which would dwarf the 105 million euros Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pogba.

Javier Mascherano said Neymar was “the future” of Barcelona as the Argentine pleaded with the striker to stay put.

“In the case of Ney, obviously he is young, and I hope he’s here with Barcelona for many more years,” Mascherano told American sports network ESPN.

“He is a really important player for the club. Because of his age, he’s the future of the club, and we hope we can keep on counting on him.”

However, it’s believed the Brazilian is being seduced by the immense wealth on offer to him from the Qatari owners of PSG and by the opportunity to have a team built around him.

The daily Sport newspaper also claimed that Luis Suarez has also attempted to persuade Neymar not to split up the MSN frontline at Barcelona made up of Lionel Messi, Suarez and the Brazilian star.

Catalunya Radio said that the deal is “95 percent complete”.

One of the keys would be the payment to Neymar’s father and agent of a “premium exceeding the 40 million” paid when the player controversially moved to Spain from Santos.

Other reports have claimed that Neymar senior has recently met with, or is about to meet, PSG sporting director Antero Henrique.

However, Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre insisted Tuesday that it is “200 percent” certain that Neymar will stay at the club.

In a public game of tit-for-tat pronouncements, PSG coach Unai Emery hailed the Brazilian.

“Neymar has advanced his game massively and today he is one of the five best in the world,” said Emery.

“Our president is working hard to attract top players and our fans would be content to count on a new top player to go along with the talent we already have.”

Neymar, meanwhile, will display his coveted skills for the first time this summer when Barcelona face Juventus in New Jersey on Saturday.-AFP

BARCELONA, May 29: When you get to manage Lionel Messi, it sounds downright silly to talk about the challenges awaiting Barcelona’s coach-to-be.

Yet whoever the Catalan club picks to replace Luis Enrique on Monday will not just be handed a star-studded team led by one of the best players in the world.

The chosen one will also inherit a handful of small, but serious flaws whose handling will determine whether he is a success or failure.

Media speculation has placed Ernesto Valverde, who recently left Athletic Bilbao, and current Everton coach Ronald Koeman as the leading candidates to replace a worn-out Luis Enrique.

“On Monday, we will know officially and the coach that comes will have the qualities to carry this team forward,” Andres Iniesta said after Barcelona salvaged its otherwise disappointing season by winning the Copa del Rey on Saturday.

“Now our task is to keep winning,” Iniesta said.

“When you don’t achieve your objectives, which is to win major titles, your season wasn’t a good one. We know we have things to improve. That’s how demanding this club is.”

Here is a look at the most pressing issues facing Barcelona’s future boss:

THAT MISSING BIT

Despite winning a third straight Copa del Rey, Barcelona took a step back this season. But a look at its numbers will leave Enrique’s successor the puzzle of figuring out why.

Barcelona had the highest scoring attack in the Spanish league with the competition’s top two scorers in Messi and Luis Suarez. It also defended well, conceding four fewer goals than champion Real Madrid.

In the Champions League it pulled off one of the most spectacular comebacks in the history of the competition when it roared back 6-1 against Paris Saint-Germain to overturn a 4-0 first-leg deficit.

Then it promptly slumped out 3-0 to Juventus after not scoring in either leg. The difference behind those three extra points that Madrid earned through 38 rounds and its highs and lows in Europe resides somewhere in the intangible world of keeping up the maximum levels of effort and concentrations week in, week out.

Bridging that tiny gap between very good and sustained greatness is task No. 1 for Barcelona’s incoming manager.

MORE MASIA

The steady stream of talent that once flowed from Barcelona’s La Masia training academy into its first team dried up under Enrique.

The only homegrown player to earn a starting role under Enrique was Sergi Roberto, a midfielder converted to right back. Rafinha remains a reserve after returning from Celta Vigo, while Pedro Rodriguez and youngsters Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez left to find playing time.

The academy that has produced current figures Messi, Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets needs to reclaim its weight on the first team for the benefit of both.

BARCA’S IDENTITY

Nobody can say that Enrique wasn’t a winner. He had a perfect first campaign in 2014-15, repeating the rare treble of Champions League, Spanish league and Copa del Rey first conquered by Pep Guardiola.

He followed that with a double of the league and Copa del Rey in 2015-16, and then added a third cup when Barcelona beat Alaves 3-1 in his last match in charge.

Toss in a Club World Cup, a European Super Cup and a Spanish Super Cup, and his team won nine of a possible 13 trophies. Those numbers are on par with Guardiola’s 14 of a possible 19 titles from 2008-2012.

But many of Barcelona’s purists complained that the team had lost its identity of dominating opponents through superior ball control by its midfield.

Since the arrival of Neymar and Suarez to join Messi up front, the focus on the team has shifted from its midfield to its attack.

Before last season, the club tried to bulk up its midfield by signing Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez. But the team struggled to dictate matches when the Iniesta was off the pitch, leaving Messi as its best playmaker.

If the Barcelona of old is to be the Barcelona of the future, its coach must get more from its other underperforming midfielders to help out Iniesta, who will turn 34 next season.-AP

MADRID, May 28: A Lionel Messi masterclass salvaged some silverware to end Barcelona’s season and gave coach Luis Enrique a victorious send-off as the Catalans retained the Copa del Rey with a 3-1 win over Alaves.

Messi opened the scoring then helped tee up Neymar and Paco Alcacer to lead Barca to a record 29th Cup triumph after Theo Hernandez’s brilliant free-kick had briefly brough Alaves level.

Victory means Enrique bows out after three seasons in charge with nine trophies to his name, including the Cup in every year of his reign.

However, once again it was Messi who inspired Barca to bounceback from the disappointment of losing their La Liga title to Real Madrid last weekend with a stunning individual display.

Barca were without the suspended Luis Suarez and Sergi Roberto and Enrique was forced into another reshuffle just 11 minutes in as Javier Mascherano was forced off with a head injury.

Yet, whilst Barca’s depth has been much-criticised this season, Andre Gomes deputised ably at right-back after replacing Mascherano and Alcacer took his chance on a rare start on the big stage in Suarez’s absence.

In stark contrast to Barca’s glorious run of six finals in seven years, Alaves were appearing in Spanish football’s showpiece for the first time.

The Basques were roared on by the more enthusiastic support at a far from full Vicente Calderon in its last competitive fixture before Atletico Madrid move home next season.

And Alaves were left wondering what might have been had they gone ahead when Ibai Gomez’s effort came back off the post, ricocheted off the back of Barca ‘keeper Jasper Cillessen but somehow squirmed along the goal line and not into the net on 27 minutes.

Three minutes later Messi kicked off a thrilling four- goal spell in the final 15 minutes of the half as he exchanged passes with Neymar before curling his 54th goal of the season.

However, Barca’s initial lead only lasted three minutes.

On-loan Atletico left-back Hernandez has been courted by Barcelona, but looks set to become the first player to cross the Madrid divide since 2000 by signing for Real Madrid in the coming weeks.

And the 19-year-old showed why he is in such demand by bending a sumptuous free-kick into the top corner.

Messi saw a free-kick of his own beaten away by Fernando Pacheco, whilst Ivan Rakitic drilled a low shot just wide as Barca immediately reacted to conceding.

Fittingly, Messi was involved once more when Barca did regain the lead as he received Neymar’s pass before playing in Gomes and the Portuguese’s low cross was tapped home by Neymar at the back post as he scored for the third consecutive season in the Cup final.

Barca then put the game to bed in first-half stoppage time when Messi again pulled the Alaves defence apart and his reverse pass freed Alcacer to smash the ball beyond Pacheco into the far corner.

The two nearly combined again five minutes into the second period, but this time Pacheco repelled Alcacer’s effort on the stretch from Messi’s teasing cross.

Alaves battled bravely as the second period wore on, but any hope of a fightback was extinguished by the offside flag when Deyverson fired home from close range 20 minutes from time.-AFP

MADRID, May 7: Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez scored twice as a much-changed Real Madrid moved to within three victories of winning La Liga with a 4-0 demolition of Tony Adams’s already-relegated Granada.

Earlier, Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were all on target to take their combined tally for the season to 102 as Barcelona kept pace at the top with a 4-1 win over Villarreal.

Barca remain top thanks to their superior head-to-head record with the two locked on 84 points, but Real have three games remaining to the Catalans’ two.

Real coach Zinedine Zidane continued his rotation policy of recent weeks with nine changes from the side that beat Atletico Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday as hat-trick hero Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of the squad entirely.

However, it mattered little as Real maintained their perfect La Liga record in nine games without Ronaldo this season.

“For a coach it is the best possible news,” said Zidane.

“It means that everyone is involved, in good physical condition, every time they get a chance to play they do well. I can only be satisfied with that.”

Barely two minutes had gone when Lucas Vazquez got in behind the Granada defence and squared for Rodriguez to tap home the opener.

The Colombian then powered home a header from Fabio Coentrao’s cross just nine minutes later.

Adams made a substitution after just 16 minutes as Uche Agbo replaced Aly Malle, but it couldn’t prevent the one-way traffic.

“Real Madrid are at another level to us, they’ve got some fantastic players but we gave it to them too easily in the first-half,” said Adams.

Morata blasted home Danilo’s low cross then bullied Martin Hongla out of the way to fire home his 20th goal of the season.

Vazquez then hit the bar and Casemiro somehow shot over with the goal at his mercy as Madrid’s dominance of the first 45 minutes left some Granada fans in tears.

Real had mercy on the hosts after the break, but now just need seven points from their last three games against Sevilla, Celta Vigo and Malaga to seal a first La Liga title in five years.

Barca maintained the pressure on the European champions with all of their front three on top form against Villarreal.

Neymar took advantage of a blocked shot from Messi to prod home the opener from close range after 21 minutes.

However, Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu continued his brilliant form to bring the visitors levels just 11 minutes later when he streaked clear of Gerard Pique before slotting home his seventh goal in six games.

Barca got a slice of luck to regain the lead just before the break as Messi’s effort from the edge of the area deflected beyond Andres Fernandez for the Argentine’s 50th goal of the season and to bring up a combined 100 for he, Suarez and Neymar for the campaign.

Suarez took that tally to 101 and killed the game off as a contest when he turned Jaume Costa and fired low and hard past Fernandez.

Costa was also the man at fault as he was harshly adjudged to have handled inside his own box after a sensational piece of skill from Neymar eight minutes from time.

“Any football fan should value what Neymar does,” said Barca coach Luis Enrique.

“Often it seems much more like ballet than a football move. It is exceptional, beautiful, effective and spectacular.”

And Messi chipped the resulting penalty down the middle of the goal to round off the scoring.

Atletico guaranteed a top-four finish as Saul Niguez’s winner 21 minutes from time earned a 1-0 win over Eibar.

At the other end of the table Sporting Gijon kept their hopes of staying up alive with a 1-0 win over Las Palmas.