Half-Time Report: Barcelona tearing Elche apart in Copa del Rey

Barcelona are making light work of Elche in this evening's Copa del Rey last-16 first leg at Camp Nou, as goals from Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi have given the Blaugrana a dominant 3-0 lead at half time.

The hosts were quickest off the starting blocks and combined to slice through the Elche defence on numerous occasions in the first few minutes, but the visitors held tight at the back.

Neymar then called for a penalty in the seventh minute after he was felled by Damian Suarez in the box, but the referee waved away the appeals.

Just after the quarter-hour mark, a cleared Messi free kick fell to Dani Alves, who lashed a volley back towards the unguarded goal from 40 yards that flew just wide.

All of Barca's pressure duly paid off when Neymar opened the scoring in the 35th minute, Luis Suarez's ball across the face of Przemyslaw Tyton's goalmouth falling to the Brazilian, who had the simple task of prodding home.

Just five minutes later, the Uruguayan striker doubled his side's lead when he surged from the left flank towards goal, before drilling a low shot past the Elche keeper.

Messi then had a goal disallowed in the latter stages of the game for offside, but Barca nevertheless notched up a third strike when Neymar was brought down by Enzo Roco in first-half injury time, and the Argentine duly converted from the spot.