Barcelona hammered Cordoba 8-0 in their La Liga clash at the Nuevo Arcangel today to continue their push towards the title.

A hat-trick from Luis Suarez and a brace from Lionel Messi guided Luis Enrique's men to the three points as they scored six goals in the second half to relegate Jose Antonio Romero's men.

Here, Sports Mole evaluates the displays of each player involved in the contest.

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Goal

Juan Carlos: The keeper could no nothing to prevent any of the eight goals that found their way past him in the contest, and also made a couple of good stops to keep the scoreline down. (6/10)

Defence

Jose Angel Crespo: The defender had a few promising runs down the right flank in the first half, which another day could have been coverted into goals. Was replaced at half time by Gunino. (6/10)

Inigo Lopez: Had a strong start to the game, but, after Barcelona took the lead, he folded like his teammates as the pressure on the goal became overwhelming. (3/10)

Aleksandar Pantic: Like his partner at the back, Pantic had a strong start to the game and made one good intervention to deny Suarez in the first half, but struggled immensely in the second half when Barcelona ran riot. (3/10)

Edimar Fraga: The left back had a decent start to the game, but he allowed Alves far too much space to roam into as he struggled with his defenisve duties. Going forward he offered an outlet, but the majority of the goals came from his side of the pitch. (3/10)

Midfield

Rene Krhin: Was quiet in midfield as he watched Iniesta and Rakitic dominate the middle of the park with their accurate passing. (3/10)

Deivid: Made a couple of good blocks in the first half to deny Messi and Iniesta, but faded drastically as the match wore on. (3/10)

Luso: Could not make an impact at all in the match as he watched Iniesta and Rakitic dominate the midfield. Failed to exert himself physically once Barcelona took the lead as he did not provide his back four with protection. (2/10)

Fidel: Was anonymous during the match as he failed to make any lasting impression in the midfield. (2/10)

Attack

Bebe: Had one decent chance but failed to take it in the first half. Offered an outlet for his teammates, but lacked support throughout the contest. (4/10)

Florin Andone: The striker had a couple of opportunities but failed to take either, which could have given his side hope in the match before they capitulated in the second half. (3/10)

Substitutes

Adrian Gunino: Gave away the penalty for the seventh goal and struggled in the back four after arriving from the bench in the second half. (3/10)

Patrick Ekeng: Had one decent effort after coming off the bench, which went just wide of the target. Was a spectator for the rest of the game as Barcelona were rampant in the final minutes of the match. (3/10)

Fedo Vico: Failed to make an impact in his time on the pitch. (3/10)

Goal

Claudio Bravo: Had a quiet afternoon as he was allowed to watch the goals fly in at the other end of the pitch. (7/10)

Defence

Dani Alves: Had an excellent afternoon as he had the freedom of the right wing and whipped several dangerous balls into the box, which resulted in at least three of his side's goals. (8/10)

Gerard Pique: Did well to find the net as fended off a challenge to head home from a corner. Other than that he had a quiet afternoon as his side were barely threatened. (7/10)

Javier Mascherano: Solid and composed at the back for the Catalan club as he helped them dominate possession with his accurate passes. Did not have to do much defending, which was ideal for the Argentine. (7/10)

Jordi Alba: Assured return to the team following his one-match suspension. Attacked down the left with pace and supplied the front men with the ball in dangerous areas. (7/10)

Midfield

Sergio Busquets: Was not called on to do much as his team controlled proceedings throughout. However, he ensured that Iniesta and Rakitic were always supplied with the ball. (7/10)

Andres Iniesta: Hit a lovely pass over the top of the defence to supply Rakitic and then hit a similar delivery to supply Suarez. Was outstanding in the heart of the midfield as he ensured that his side dominated the contest. (8/10)

Ivan Rakitic: Showed great awareness and composure to score the opening goal as he blasted the ball past Juan Carlos. Dominated the midfield with Iniesta as Barcelona created wave after wave off attacks before he was substituted. (8/10)

Attack

Neymar: Missed an absolute sitter early in the game and had a frustrating afternoon in front of goal until he was brought down for the spot kick. He showed his composure from the spot by slotting the ball past Juan Carlos with relative ease. (7/10)

Luis Suarez: Outstanding performance from the Uruguayan as his predatory instincts were at their best. He scored a hat-trick to put Cordoba to the sword. His first two strikes were typical poachers' goals, but his third was a well-struck shot which gave the keeper no chance. (9/10)

Lionel Messi: A normal player would receive a great deal of plaudits for this kind of performance, but it was just a typical Messi display as he notched two goals without being at his best, which just proves the quality of the Argentine. (8/10)

Substitutes

Jeremy Mathieu: Solid when he arrived on the pitch and was not asked to do much as he watched his team seal an emphatic victory. (6/10)

Xavi: Ensured that his team kept the pressure on as he helped them maintain possession in the final third to keep the attacking trio well supplied with the ball in dangerous areas. (7/10)

Pedro: Did make an impact as managed to get involved with two of his side's goals with his direct style of play. Showed good teammwork to set up Suarez for his potential hat-trick before Messi snatched the fifth goal. (8/10)

Written by
Simon Sinclair