Barcelona have scored twice just before half time to open up a 2-0 lead over Cordoba in their La Liga clash this afternoon.

The visitors were on the front foot from the start, with Neymar trying to convert from a Dani Alves cross, before Lionel Messi missed the target after scuffing the ball inside the opening five minutes.

Ivan Rakitic charged towards the home side's penalty area after winning the ball back in midfield, crossing in for Messi, but the Argentine's effort was deflected high.

Barcelona continued to create the majority of the chances, with Javier Mascherano feeding the ball through to Messi, but his finish lacked power, leaving Juan Carlos in the Cordoba goal.

The league leaders' dominance finally paid off just before the break when Andres Iniesta chipped the ball forward for Rakitic, leaving the winger to blast it past the keeper.

It took the visitors just two minutes to add a second as Luis Suarez found the target just before the interval, turning a Rakitic cross through the legs of the keeper.