Barcelona welcomed relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon to Camp Nou on Saturday knowing that a win would see them return to the top of La Liga.
Lionel Messi sent the Catalan outfit into a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute, but Sporting impressed as the first period developed and managed to keep the score down entering the second half of action.
Barcelona scored five more times in the second period, however, with Luis Suarez hitting four and Neymar also getting his name on the scoresheet against a Sporting side that had Ognjen Vranjes sent off late on.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Camp Nou as Barcelona welcome Sporting Gijon. Both of these teams are in desperate need of the points at this stage of the season, but for very different reasons. Victory for Barcelona would see them regain first spot in the table, but Sporting can move out of the bottom three with a positive result tonight. Here's to an entertaining match-up!
To suggest that the omens are not great for Sporting tonight would be putting it mildly. Indeed, Barcelona have won their last 10 home league games against Sporting – keeping five clean sheets in the process. In fact, the last time that Sporting avoided defeat in this stadium was in 1992, when the pair played out a 1-1 draw in Spain's top flight. It is a very tough task for the visitors tonight.
What's more, Barcelona also recorded a 3-1 victory when the two teams met in the reverse match earlier this season. Right, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Camp Nou...
TEAMS:
BARCA: Bravo; Roberto, Mascherano, Pique, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
SPORTING: Cuellar; Vranjes, Luis, Lichnovsky, Lopez; Mascarell, Rachid, Perez, Halilovic, Menendez; Guerrero
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has recalled Gerard Pique to his starting XI following a one-game suspension, while Sergi Roberto replaces Dani Alves at right-back. It is otherwise the same team that faced Deportivo La Coruna, however, with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all included.
As for Sporting, the big news is that teenage attacker Alen Halilovic, who is on loan from Barcelona, starts against his parent club. Miguel Angel Guerrero comes in to lead the attack ahead of Antonio Sanabria, while Ognjen Vranjes is also included. Alex Menendez will operate in a wide left role for the visitors.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just over 40 minutes from kickoff on this warm evening in Barcelona. Real Madrid's 3-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano earlier this afternoon saw Los Blancos move to the top of the table, but Atletico Madrid are about to take that position courtesy of their 1-0 lead over Malaga entering the latter stages at the Vicente Calderon.
Barcelona are heading down to third position, but they would return to the top of the table with all three points tonight. Three straight league defeats between April 2 and April 17 saw the Catalan giants stumble and allow the two Madrid teams back into the race, but they thumped Deportivo La Coruna 8-0 on Wednesday night to hold off the pressure from the capital. It is a fascinating race in Spain!
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It is pretty simple for Barcelona – win all four of their remaining league matches this season and they will retain the title. After tonight's match, they will travel to Real Betis next weekend, before hosting rivals Espanyol on May 8. Their season then ends away to Granada on May 15 and 12 points would see them win the league regardless of how Atletico and Real Madrid perform in the final weeks.
Indeed, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid also have Champions League semi-finals to focus on, but Barcelona, who have certainly showed signs of tiredness in recent months, can put everything into the league and then prepare to face Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final at the end of next month. A domestic double would still represent a fine campaign despite their recent struggles.
Barcelona have lost their last two home games in the league, but they have not lost three in a row since 1987. That has only happened twice in their history and it would be a major, major surprise if Enrique's side did not return to winning ways on home soil tonight. Sporting are seriously fighting for their lives, however, and have something to play for at this stage of the campaign.
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Messi, Neymar and Suarez all struggled during Barcelona's recent blip, but Suarez hit four against Deportivo during the week to take his tally to 30 league goals for the season. Neymar and Messi also registered against Deportivo and all three will be confident of increasing their tallies in this match.
RESULT! Atletico Madrid 1-0 Malaga! Atletico have beaten Malaga at the Calderon to move to the top of La Liga. However, Barcelona would return to the summit with all three points tonight.
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As for Sporting, Abelardo Fernandez's side currently sit 18th in the La Liga table on 32 points. They are only one point off 17th-place Granada, however, and three behind 16th-place Rayo Vallecano, who have played one game more. Tonight is not quite a must-win game for Sporting, but they have to start picking up some points if they are to remain in the top flight for another season.
That said, Sporting have actually only lost one of their last five in the league and have taken four points from their last two matches. They secured a point away to Las Palmas on April 16, before recording an impressive 2-1 victory over Sevilla on Wednesday night. What's more, Abelardo's side shocked Atletico with a 2-1 win last month, but travelling to Camp Nou is an entirely different prospect.
Sporting actually have a better away record than home this season, but they have only won three of their 17 league games on their travels – scoring just 11 times in the process. They have only shipped 55 goals this season, however, which is far from a disastrous record in relation to the teams around them.
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Even the most ardent of Sporting fans will find it difficult to believe that their team can win tonight. Next Friday, however, they will welcome Eibar, before travelling to Getafe one week later. Sporting then end their season at home to Villarreal and you sense that their next three will be far more important than tonight's match, which is a very difficult task. Time for my pre-match prediction then!
PREDICTION! I am finding it very difficult to make a case for Sporting tonight. Barcelona returned to winning ways against Deportivo and I just cannot see them passing up the chance to return to the top of the table. Sporting are also in need of the points, but I am backing a comfortable 3-0 home win.
A final reminder of the two teams for tonight's match...
BARCA: Bravo; Roberto, Mascherano, Pique, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
SPORTING: Cuellar; Vranjes, Luis, Lichnovsky, Lopez; Mascarell, Rachid, Perez, Halilovic, Menendez; Guerrero
KICKOFF! Here we go then - the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. Time for the football! It is the away side that kick things off at Camp Nou tonight...
... Sporting are far from full-strength tonight and in truth, it would not be a surprise if they took a bit of a hiding in this match. As expected, the home side have settled into a passing tempo and will look to control matters from the middle of the park. I just hope that this game does not get silly!
It must be said that the Camp Nou is far from full tonight, which is not too much of a surprise. Tickets were pretty free and available for this match as many expect a comfortable home-banker. The first half-chance goes to Messi, but the Argentine heads a Roberto cross over from close range.
Suarez and Messi look in the mood tonight and the former tries to find the latter with a cute pass inside the box, but there is just too much weight on the ball and Cuellar is out to collect.
Sporting have the chance to threaten as Perez delivers a deep free kick into the Barcelona box, but the home side clear with no real problems. Decent-enough start from the visiting team tonight.
As expected, Sporting are sitting in and attempting to contain Barcelona and in fairness, they have been successful in the opening 11 minutes. Messi came close with an early header, but apart from that, there have been no half-chances for the reigning champions, who are currently down in third.
CHANCE! Oh my word! What a chance! Sporting have a super opportunity to take the lead as Guerrero races down the right before picking out Menendez, who is free inside the Barcelona box, but the number three can only strike straight at Bravo, who makes a smart save.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Sporting (Messi)
Barcelona make the breakthrough in the 12th minute of action as Messi heads home from the edge of the box after Cuellar's weak punch had failed to clear the area. Simple goal for the Argentine!
SAVE! Super save from Cuellar this time around as the Sporting goalkeeper keeps out a close-range strike from Messi, who had fired one towards the bottom corner. All Barcelona now!
Menendez has the chance to race away for the visitors and he finds a pass into Rachid, but the midfielder is crowded out in a central area. You sense that there is something in this game for Sporting, but I just cannot see Barcelona not finding at least two or three more goals here.
Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona as they look for space outside a crowded Sporting box.
Halilovic, who is on loan at Sporting from Barcelona, decides to have a go from the edge of the box and the little midfielder is not too far away as the ball deflects over Bravo's goal for a corner-kick.
Sporting have come to play tonight - that is for sure - and you have to credit them for committing players forward each time they have the chance to break. Barcelona, however, look fresher tonight and they need all the points to return to the top of the table ahead of both Atletico and Real Madrid.
BOOKING! Vranjes (Sporting) is booked for a foul on Neymar.
Half-chance for Barcelona as Roberto collects a cross from Alba and looks to bend one into the far corner, but the Spaniard's effort was always moving wide of the post. Still 1-0 Barcelona here.
Little under 15 minutes of the first period remaining and Barcelona are very comfortable as they continue to move the ball from right to left. That said, at 1-0, Sporting will always be in this game.
The referee is allowing the game to flow despite a number of heavy challenges, which is not often the case in Spanish football. Barcelona continue to camp just outside the Sporting box, but the visitors are working very hard to close the space and will be pleased with their performance tonight.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and in truth, not too much has happened since Messi made the breakthrough. No sign of the floodlights opening in this match thus far!
CHANCE! Menendez has another brilliant chance for the away side after meeting a deep cross at the far post, but the left-back fires wide of the target! He has been a threat in a midfield role!
Iniesta blazes high and wide of the target as Sporting continue to grow in this match.
CHANCE! Brilliant from Neymar as the Barcelona attacker takes three defenders with him before playing the ball back to Suarez, but the Uruguay international's strike is deflected for a corner!
CHANCE! It just is not happening for Neymar at the moment as the Brazilian fails to beat Cuellar from close range after Messi had released the attacker with a quite wonderful pass.
OFF-THE-LINE! Mascherano and Pique are both forced to clear off the line as Sporting threaten an equaliser late in the first period. That was all very untidy inside the home side's box!
HALF-TIME: Barcelona 1-0 Sporting
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barcelona leading Sporting Gijon 1-0 courtesy of a Messi header in the 12th minute. The floodlights did not open, however, and the visitors have been more than a match for the champions, who are still far from their best.
STATISTICS! Barcelona have dominated the possession with 72%, while they have had eight attempts - three of which were on target. Sporting, meanwhile, have hit the target with two of their four attempts and have looked dangerous when given the chance to break forward at Camp Nou.
BENCH WATCH! Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has a number of attacking options on his bench tonight, with the likes of Rafinha, Alves, Munir and Turan all available. Sporting Gijon, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Castro and their top scorer for the season - Sanabria.
MATCH PIC!
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RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Sporting upset Barcelona here? We shall find out! The home side restart proceedings at Camp Nou...
... BARCELONA SUB! Dani Alves has replaced Roberto at right-back.
Just a reminder that three points takes Barcelona back to the top of the table, but they will have to earn the win against a Sporting team that have not come here to just take a defeat.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Messi has the ball in the back of the net for Barcelona, but Suarez is penalised for a foul on Cuellar. The striker jumped into the goalkeeper and that is the correct call!
Not much of an atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment and that is a reflection of matters on the field. Barcelona are having most of the ball, but Sporting are not under any real pressure here.
Messi continues to come deep to collect the ball, but Neymar and Suarez are not causing too many problems to a Sporting defence that has been largely solid in their 53 minutes at Camp Nou tonight.
Half-chance for the home side as Neymar picks out Suarez with a low pass, but the striker's effort was always dropping wide of the post. Just not the same tempo to their play at the moment.
CLOSE! Messi cuts inside two defenders before attempting to pick out the far corner, but the Argentine's effort just misses the post - that looked like 2-0 to everyone here!
Barcelona have a couple more half-chances, but Suarez and Neymar both fail to make contact on a cross from Alves, before Alba's strike is blocked behind for a corner. Still just the one goal in this game.
SAVE! Cuellar keeps out Neymar from close range as the Brazilian's struggles continue!
Barcelona have a free kick in a dangerous position as Lopez fells Messi...
... Messi puts his free kick into the stands.
SPORTING SUB! Sanabria replaces Perez in Sporting's first change.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Sporting (Suarez)
Barcelona double their lead in the 63rd minute as Suarez has the simple task of firing home at the far post after Iniesta had delivered a cute wonderful cross into the Uruguay international.
BARCELONA SUB! Marc Bartra replaces Pique in Barcelona's second change.
Barcelona are searching for a third at the moment and Rakitic decides to have a go from the edge of the box, but the midfielder's effort was always moving over the goal. Another Sporting change...
... SPORTING SUB! Canella replaces Ivan Lopez in Sporting's second sub.
BOOKING! Hernandez (Sporting) is booked for tugging Neymar's shirt.
OFF-THE-LINE! Canella clears a Messi strike off-the-line after excellent combination work between the Argentine and Neymar. That is more like it from those two!
PENALTY BARCELONA!
Barcelona have a penalty as Canella is penalised for handball inside the box!
GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Sporting (Suarez, pen)
Suarez sends his spot kick into the corner to make it 3-0 Barcelona.
BARCELONA SUB! Turan replaces Rakitic in Barcelona's second change.
PENALTY BARCELONA!
Barcelona have another penalty as Sanabria bundles Neymar to the ground inside the box.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-0 Sporting (Suarez, hat-trick)
This time, Suarez goes down the middle, but it is the same outcome!
Sporting were actually well in this match for long spells, but Barcelona have utterly dominated the last 15 minutes or so and that has resulted in three more goals and a certain return to first spot.
SPORTING SUB! Castro has replaced Guerrero in the away side's attack.
PENALTY BARCELONA!
RED CARD! VRANJES!
Sporting are reduced to 10 men and Barcelona have a third penalty as Vranjes is penalised for a foul on Neymar inside the box. That was very, very harsh. Poor decision from the referee.
GOAL! Barcelona 5-0 Sporting (Neymar, pen)
Neymar manages to find the back of the net, although the goalkeeper should have saved it!
GOAL! Barcelona 6-0 Sporting (Suarez)
Messi slides a super pass into Suarez and the striker finds the inside of the post to make it four goals for the night. Suarez now has eight goals in his last two appearances - incredible.
The referee indicates that we will play an additional two minutes here.
FULL-TIME: Barcelona 6-0 Sporting
So there we have it. Barcelona put six goals past Sporting Gijon at Camp Nou to return to the top of La Liga ahead of Atletico and Real Madrid - some response from the Catalan giants! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action once again. Until next time!
