Barcelona, Nov 8 (EFE; odds by IDSca.com).– With Lionel Messi out with a knee injury, it has been Neymar’s turn to step up and provide leadership for Barcelona in Spanish soccer action, and step up he has, most recently scoring two of the team’s three goals to shut out Villarreal here on Sunday.

In a game that was looking bad for a floundering Barça against an efficient and combative Villarreal, the first half closed scoreless and after the break the visitors were still holding the line against the home squad for another quarter hour of playing time.

The 23-year-old Brazilian finally got the team on the board, however, scoring from the left on a pass from Busquets in the 61st minute, after earning a yellow card 15 minutes before that. Then it was Luis Suarez who hit the twine on a penalty kick in the 70th minute and finally Neymar again in the 84th minute on a brilliant shot up and over Areola, the opposing goaltender.

“We’ve been doing well, because we’ve created many scoring chances. I’m happy about the goals,” Neymar said after the match.

And Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral, said Sunday that the Brazilian phenomenon “is the most decisive player in La Liga” at the present time.

It was the 11th week of La Liga play and, with the 3-0 result, Barcelona is atop the Spanish rankings with 27 points, followed by Real Madrid with 24, Celta with 21 and Atletico Madrid and Villarreal tied for fourth place with 20 points. EFE

With the latest victory by Barcelona, the club is a favorite by many oddsmakers to win a consecutive La Liga championship title. From Costa Rica, renowned Pay-Per-Head (PPH) provider IDSca.com reports odds of 1/2 and 4/9 for Barca to clinch another title.

Neymar and Suarez have good odds to become top goalscorers of the season, but they are surpassed by clear favorite Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid at 1/2.