MSN too hot too handle yet again... but don't forget the supporting cast

When Dani Alves was taken off in the second half of Barcelona’s four-goal win over Real Sociedad on Saturday, Camp Nou came to its feet. Chants of ‘Alves’ reverberated around the stadium for the man who had created the first two goals in Luis Enrique’s side’s latest win.

Andres Iniesta was given a similar reception when he was taken off at the Bernabeu last week as Barça hammered Real Madrid in the Clasico. The midfielder was again delightful on the eye as La Real became the latest victim of a productive last eight days for the Catalan club - in wins against Madrid, Roma and Real Sociedad, Barcelona have scored 14 goals and conceded just one.

Neither Alves nor Iniesta, though, are the centre of attention when Barcelona step on to the pitch. Instead, all eyes are focused on the most devastating front line in world football: Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. All three of them were on target against La Real - with the Brazilian, La Liga’s top scorer with 14, grabbing two - as they took their combined tally to 43 for the season.

‘I’m so excited’ was the choice of song at half-time as the players ate their oranges and it’s hard not to be excited when witnessing Neymar, Suarez and Messi in action and quite clearly enjoying themselves - regardless of your club colours.

Neymar here, in particular, produced an outrageous performance - as he has done time and again this season. Not only did he score two goals, but he also spent the final 30 minutes trying to set one up for his friend Messi, eventually succeeding in stoppage time. And there was still time for the Brazilian to somehow dance between three visiting defenders in the box, only to stumble at the pivotal moment.

Then there’s Suarez. The Uruguayan scored a special volley in the week against Roma, only to arguably better it against Real Sociedad. Aside from the obvious - 18 goals this season - he adds so much to this Barcelona side. Defenders are never given a moments rest against him as he fights and harries for every single ball, as Luka Modric found out last weekend in the build-up to the second goal in the Blaugrana’s 4-0 Clasico triumph.

Between them, Neymar and Suarez have scored 26 of Barcelona 33 La Liga goals - and now they have got Messi back with them after a two month injury lay-off.

The lack of ego and the obvious camaraderie between the three appears to be their major strengths, but it’s also the team’s major strength. As Messi told Goal this week, he doesn’t strive for individual awards; he prefers to win trophies with his club at the end of the season. Thomas Vermaelen, too, has commented on how the special atmosphere in the dressing room drives the team forward.

Which brings us back around to Alves and Iniesta - two members of that team. The Brazilian full-back, now 32, was close to leaving in the summer and has had to put up with plenty of criticism. However, he keeps fighting and his football is doing the talking at the moment. Two great runs down the right were rewarded with two assists against La Real - the first for Neymar and the second for Suarez.

Iniesta, as if there were any doubts, is quite clearly still a man capable of controlling a football match. He controlled this one and his pass released Alves for the Suarez goal, while another pass in the second half set Jeremy Mathieu scampering down the left to create Neymar’s second of the evening.

So while the narrative is obviously and rightly about Messi, Suarez and Neymar, it’s worth remembering that operating in their shadows are some of the world’s finest players in their positions. Iniesta and Alves are just two of them and it’s a fact which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Barcelona supporters - as the recognition Alves received when he was taken off proves.