- Barcelona went ahead through Pedro just one minute and 12 seconds into match at Nou Camp
- Luis Suarez scored his first goal in La Liga with a scuffed finish to double Barca's lead on Saturday
- Gerard Pique scored Barcelona's third goal with just 10 minutes remaining at the Nou Camp
- Lionel Messi added the fourth and fifth goals to ensure Barcelona comfortably won the match on Saturday
- The Catalans move just one point behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who have a game in hand
Luis
Suarez finally broke his La Liga duck as Barcelona routed Cordoba,
closing the gap on leaders Real Madrid to just one point.
Although
the Uruguayan was delighted to end his eight-game goalless streak in
the competition, it was strike partner Pedro that took the plaudits,
bagging the first and then playing in Suarez for his goal.
Lionel
Messi was having a quiet game but had the final say with two late goals
to add gloss to the scoreline, after Gerard Pique had nodded in the
third, providing a sweet end to what had been a bitterly disappointing
year for his club.
Luis Suarez (left) celebrates with Pedro after scoring his first-ever La Liga goal for Barcelona against Cordoba at the Nou Camp
The Uruguayan (centre) bundles the ball home against Cordoba during Barcelona's victory at the Nou Camp on Satuday
Barcelona have been battered to the canvas in 2014, at least to the extent that a side as big as Barcelona can be.
They
lost in the Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid, they threw away La Liga
on the final day against Atletico Madrid at the Nou Camp, and were
booted out of the Champions League by Diego Simeone's side as well.
Then
there were off-field problems, with Neymar's contract controversy
forcing the resignation of Sandro Rosell and the tragic death of former
coach Tito Vilanova.
The
start to life under Luis Enrique has been rocky, with a good start
crumbling away after defeats in the Clasico and then at home against
Celta Vigo.
But
slowly they are picking themselves up and dusting themselves down. This
was the fourth home game in two weeks, and they have scored a total of
21 goals in that time.
Suarez hugs Pedro enthusiastically,
almost looking like he is nibbling him, after scoring his first La Liga
goal at the Nou Camp on Saturday
The ex-Liverpool striker performs his trademark celebration by kissing his wrist following his goal at the Nou Camp on Saturday
In
between, there was last weekend’s weak performance away at Getafe, when
without Neymar they lacked the skill and incision to destabilise the
Madrid minnows and suffered a goalless draw.
The Brazilian had an ankle injury, which saw him left on the bench for this game, but he was not needed.
Pedro,
who now has six goals in six games after netting only one in the
previous 16 games, opened the scoring after just a minute.
Ivan
Rakitic played a crafty through ball towards the six-yard box and Pedro
took one touch to control it and another to ram it into the top right
corner, with Juan Carlos helpless.
The forward, always patient despite his reserve status at the club, turned provider for the second goal.
Andres
Iniesta played the ball into the area and Pedro took control, weighed
up his options and rolled the ball back for Suarez in the middle.
Since
signing from Liverpool, he has fluffed his lines a few times in La
Liga. He had a chance after 10 minutes when Jordi Alba charged up the
left and cut it back, but Suarez volleyed into the side netting.
But
receiving Pedro’s pass, he took his 17th shot of the league campaign,
in his eighth appearance, and finally got the goal he cherished. From
just a couple of yards out he prodded the ball through Juan Carlos’ legs
and turned the Nou Camp into a cauldron of camera flashes.
Rakitic,
who has been in and out of the team since signing from Sevilla, nearly
added a third two minutes later, cracking a fierce drive off the outside
of the post.
Pedro celebrates after putting Barcelona ahead at the Nou Camp less than two minutes into the game with Cordoba
The Barcelona forward (right) shoots with both feet off the ground to put the home side ahead at the Nou Camp
Pedtro celebrates by running away and jumping in the air while trying to grab his boot on Saturday
Jordi Alba (right) of Barcelona runs across to Pedro and jumps on him in celebration of the former's goal
Gerard Pique celebrates scoring Barcelona's third goal against Cordoba at the Nou Camp on Saturday
Cordoba, who only had one win in their previous 15 La Liga games, never looked like getting something here.
The
closest they came was a rambling break by Nabil Ghilas, who skinned
Javier Mascherano but then fired into the side netting of Claudio
Bravo’s goal. While many thought Marc Andre-ter Stegen would be the
replacement for Victor Valdes, the Chilean has been faultless in his
stead.
There
was more to come from Barcelona, even if the game had already been won.
Substitute Xavi Hernandez whipped in a free kick which Pique planted
into the net with a firm header, before Messi smashed one home himself,
despite putting in a subdued performance, overall.
His
second goal, right at the death, was even better. Messi pulled off a
phenomenal, elastic piece of control to bring a cross in, swivelled and
then fired home inside Juan Carlos’ near post.
Barcelona
are now breathing down Real Madrid’s neck at La Liga’s summit, although
Los Blancos have a game in hand because of their Club World Cup
participation.
There
is still plenty for Enrique to work on. He selected a 24th different
line up in his 24th game in charge, which suggests he has worked out
neither his best eleven nor the optimal system.
But
Barcelona can head into 2015 with the wind in their sails, given Suarez
has finally broken his duck in domestic competition and Pedro looks
close to rediscovering his form.
The Spain centre back (second right) rises highest to power a header into the Cordoba goal and put Barca 3-0 up
Lionel Messi of Barcelona looks on during Saturday's match in La Liga at the Nou Camp
Luis Suarez (left) of Barcelona advances with the ball as Cordoba's Inigo Lopez tries to pull him back
Cordoba defender Deivid (left) and Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic (right) both compete for the ball at the Nou Camp
Pedro (left) curls the ball around Cordoba goalkeeper Juan Carlos to give Barca an early lead at the Nou Camp
Barcelona players crowd around Pedro after the Spaniard put them ahead less than two minutes into the match
Sergio Busquets (left) of Barcelona holds off the challenge of Cordoba's Patrick Ekeng
Messi (left) waits for the ball to drop down from the air as Cordoba's Jose Angel Crespo Rincon runs across to challenge him
Pique (left) celebrates with team-mate Xavi following Barcelona's third goal against Cordoba
Messi fires in his team's fourth of the afternoon at the Nou Camp against Cordoba on Saturday
Messi celebrates with his team-mates Pique, Suarez and Jordi Alba after scoring his side's fifth against Cordoba
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