Barcelona: Just TOO good!

Brilliant Barcelona put seven goals into the Thai net in a masterful display of attacking football in a friendly match at Rajamangala National Stadium last night.

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Showing no signs of anaemia, Neymar scored his first goal as a Barcelona player. PATIPAT JANTHONG

Brilliant Barcelona hit seven past Thailand

Neymar bags first goal in entertaining friendly

Tor Chittinand

Brazil forward Neymar scored his first goal in Barcelona colours as the Spanish champions hammered Thailand 7-1 in a friendly match at Rajamangala National Stadium last night.

Spain international Pedro made a hat-trick, Argentine Lionel Messi scored twice and Chile's Alexis Sanchez completed the rout.

This young Messi fan was not disappointed. POST TODAY

Messi scored two goals, one from the penalty spot. PATIPAT JANTHONG

When Messi was surrounded by Thai defenders, he found a teammate to do the scoring. JIRAWAT SRIKONG

Teerasil Dangda scored the hosts' only goal from the spot in the final minutes of the first half to cut the deficit to 5-1.

Thai star Terrasil Dangda scored a one-million-baht goal from the penalty spot. PATIPAT JANTHONG

It was not a 'consolation' goal because it was worth one million baht as Thai Beverage Marketing, organiser of the match, promised to give the local side the sum for each goal they scored against the visitors.

Barcelona's new coach Gerardo Martino enjoyed another big win after his men thrashed Santos 8-0 at the Nou Camp last week before heading to Asia.

Thai fans clearly enjoyed the dazzling display of Barcelona firepower. PATIPAT JANTHONG

Messi and Neymar played together for the first time and thrilled the fans at the near 50,000-capacity stadium by scoring the game's first two goals.

All eyes were on Barca's flamboyant new signing Neymar, after reports he had been diagnosed with anaemia.

But the 57 million Brazilian showed no sign of illness in a lively first 45 minutes and opened the floodgates after 13 minutes.

Four-time world player of the year Messi made it 2-0 from a penalty awarded for a foul on himself in the 15th minute, and added another 10 minutes later.

Martino said Neymar and Messi would complement each other, as Barca look to a reshaped front line to spearhead a defence of their Spanish La Liga crown and banish last season's Champions League humbling by Bayern Munich.

''They [Messi and Neymar] are different players but I think they showed a good understanding today,'' the former Paraguay coach said. ''They found each other well.''

Pedro scored after 18 and 35 minutes before Cameroonian centre-half Frank Bagnack conceded a penalty.

Pedro completed his hat-trick two minutes after the interval and Sanchez made it 7-1 one minute later.

Cesc Fabregas, the subject of a major transfer bid from Manchester United, was at the heart of Barca's best moves, his metronomic passing from the left side of the three-man midfield reminding spectators why the Catalans are so keen to keep the playmaker.

''Fabregas is still here with us. He is staying with us right now and he will stay with us for the rest of the year,'' Martino said.

Barcelona were the fourth big-name side to travel to Bangkok this summer hot on the heels of English Premier League giants Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Barcelona return to Asia three years after their last tour of the football-mad continent.

It was their first visit to Bangkok for 11 years.

Barca travel to Kuala Lumpur today to play a Malaysia XI on Saturday in their only other game of the Asian trip.