Sunday 5 October 2014 13:47, UK
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique hailed his side's defence after they kept another clean sheet in their 2-0 Primera Division win over Rayo Vallecano.
Barca remained at the top of the standings following a comfortable yet unremarkable win at Vallecas, with the home side having two men sent off in the second half.
Rayo made a promising start to the game but Lionel Messi got the visitors off the mark after 34 minutes and a moment later Neymar doubled their advantage to kill off the Madrid side's hopes.
The hosts were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark when Jorge Morcillo received a second booking, and Rayo forward Javier Aquino suffered the same fate in stoppage time, but they conceded no further goals.
"The win has reinforced us," Enrique told the club's official website.
"The players had the right attitude and performed as they had to against an awkward and hard-working opponent.
"We have improved in defence and we're in fine condition.
"Our style is to create plays and for our opponent to create as few as possible. Generally, we are improving.
"At a ground like Vallecas it is essential to play intense football, and I think we got it just right."
Enrique did single out players for praise, though, particularly Messi and Neymar.
"I hope they continue to develop this connection that they have because it gives us more options for getting in on goal."
