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Neymar bags first Barca goal

Brazilian wonderkid Neymar scored his first goal in Barcelona colours as the Catalan giants swatted aside Thailand 1-7 in a friendly in Bangkok on Wednesday.

Spain international Pedro notched a neat hat trick, while Argentine superstar Lionel Messi scored a brace — including one from the penalty spot — in a first half appearance that draw screams of adulation from the near 50,000-capacity crowd at Bangkok’s Rajamangala stadium. Alexis Sanchez scored the visitor’s seventh and final goal as a second half substitute as new manager Gerardo Martino watched his charges cruise to a routine win over a plucky but callow Thai side.

Thailand’s star striker Teerasil Dangda scored a consolation penalty in the last minute of the first-half following a bungled recovery tackle by young Cameroonian centre-half Frank Bagnack.

But all eyes were on Barca’s flamboyant new signing Neymar, who was this week reportedly been diagnosed with anaemia, and his partnership up front with four-time world player of the year Messi. “They (Messi and Neymar) are different players but I think they showed a good understanding today,” Martino, the former Paraguay coach told reporters. “They found each other well.”