Untouchable Barcelona continued their cruise towards the Spanish title Sunday with a Lionel Messi-inspired 4-0 romp at Eibar, dpa reported. The FIFA world player of the year had an important hand in the first goal in the eighth minute, setting up Luis Suarez to centre for youngster Munir to score at the far post. Munir, 20, was standing in for the suspended Neymar. Eibar came close to an equalizer on three occasions in the first half but Messi made it 2-0, against the run of play, just before the interval with yet another trademark run and left-foot drive. Messi scored what was his sixth goal in three games with a cool penalty in the 74th minute, after Eibar defender Ivan Ramis had handled a cross from the little Argentine. Suarez completed the rout for Barca six minutes from time with a handsome solo goal. Suarez is one goal behind Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid in the Liga scorers' chart. It was Barca's 11th straight league win and their first clean sheet in La Liga since February 7, extending their record-breaking unbeaten run to 36 games. They are 11 points above second-placed Atletico Madrid, who were due to visit Valencia later Sunday. Barca are 12 points above third-placed Real Madrid, who caned feeble Celta Vigo 7-1 Saturday. Earlier Sunday, Real Betis moved up to 11th, well above the danger zone, with a 2-0 home defeat of southern rivals Granada, who are third bottom. Granada managed to hold out at 0-0 until five minutes from time, but then conceded late goals to Alfred N'Diaye and Ruben Castro.
