Messi and Suarez continue productive relationship

It was as if the summer break was non-existent, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez kicking off the 2016/17 LaLiga season with five goals in Barcelona 6-2 rout over Real Betis.

The Uruguayan notched a hat-trick that confirmed he hasn’t lost a beat of the Golden Boot-winning scoring instinct, while the Argentinian keeps evolving into a do-it-all unstoppable force.

‘Having Messi and Suarez clicking on the field is great news for us,’ Luis Enrique said at his post-match press conference.

‘I can only tell them to keep doing what they’re doing.’

Even though the new signings have shown glimpses of promise and Arda Turan has started synchronising with the rest of the team, Enrique knows the Blaugrana will go as far as their vaunted front-line will take them.

The Messi-Suarez axis has been efficient enough to subdue opposing defences so far even without the presence of Neymar, who just won the Olympic gold medal on Saturday for Brazil.

Ever since the ex-Liverpool striker arrived in Catalonia in the summer of 2014, he and the Rosario native have often been spotted bonding together.

The chemistry between the two is explicit when they celebrate their goals, when they drink their beloved ‘mate’ or when the neighbours in Castelldefels share a car to go train at Sant Joan Despi.

Against Betis, Messi scored two majestic goals while Suarez was in the right place at the right time for his first two before capping off the evening with a magnificent free-kick goal.

The five-time Ballon D’Or winner keeps finding the net no matter how far from the box he plays, while the current ‘Pichichi’ has amassed 17 goals in his last six LaLiga appearances.

In spite of the aforementioned attacking arsenal, Barcelona are reportedly still pursuing a back-up forward in the transfer market.

Spanish international Paco Alcacer is the favourite to land at the Camp Nou, although negotiations with Valencia won’t come easy.

Should no reinforcement arrive, Munir El Haddadi will stay at the club.