Barcelona welcomed Sporting Gijon to Camp Nou on Wednesday night knowing that a win would see them, temporarily at least, return to the top of La Liga.
An entertaining first 45 minutes produced four goals, with three of them coming for Barcelona as the Spanish champions closed on a return to first position in the table.
Paco Alcacer made it 4-1 Barcelona early in the second period, before Neymar converted a free kick in the 65th minute to make it five on the night.
The home side were not finished, however, and added a sixth through Ivan Rakitic late on.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Camp Nou as Barcelona welcome Sporting Gijon. Barcelona have needed a couple of late Lionel Messi goals in their last two league matches to collect maximum points, but the Catalan outfit will be hoping for a more comfortable victory tonight against a team struggling in the relegation zone. Be sure to stay tuned for all of the action from Camp Nou!
To suggest that Barcelona have dominated this particular fixture would possibly be the understatement of the century. Indeed, the Catalan giants have won 16 of their last 18 league matches with Sporting Gijon – remaining unbeaten in the process. The last time that Sporting Gijon beat Barcelona in the league was back in September 1994, when they secured a 2-1 win on home soil.
Worryingly for Sporting Gijon, they have conceded 11 times and failed to score in their last two league fixtures with Barcelona. Indeed, Luis Enrique's side won 5-0 in the reverse match earlier this season, while they recorded a 6-0 victory when the pair met at Camp Nou last term. History suggests that this is going to be a very long and extremely uncomfortable night for the visitors.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Camp Nou. Both of these sides were in action at the weekend – Barcelona winning 2-1 at Atletico Madrid, and Sporting Gijon picking up a point in a 1-1 draw at home to Celta Vigo. Any changes? Let's see...
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TEAMS!
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Rafinha, Mascherano, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Denis, Rakitic; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
GIJON: Cuellar; Lillo, Juan, Babin, Echiejile; Douglas, Sergio, Torres, Cases, Burgui; Castro
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has made four changes to the team that started Sunday's 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid, with Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic and Denis Suarez replacing Gerard Pique, Jeremy Mathieu, Andres Iniesta and Sergi Roberto. It appears that Rafinha will start at right-back for the Catalan giants, but there are no changes in the final third as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are all selected. Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta are both on the bench for the home side.
As for Sporting Gijon, head coach Rubi has also shuffled his pack following their 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo at the weekend. Lillo Castellano, Carlos Castro and Nacho Cases are among those to come into the XI, with the likes of Lacina Traore and Moi Gomez dropping out. The visitors are also without highly-rated centre-back Jorge Mere following his red card against Celta last time out, but Douglas Pereira, who is on loan from Barcelona, starts against his parent club. That bizarre ruling on show again!
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild evening in Barcelona. I shall speak about Sporting Gijon and their season a little bit later, but let's start with the hosts. Once again, Barcelona have the chance to move above Real Madrid to the top of the table, but Enrique's side need all three points to return to first position.
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Even if Barcelona do return to the summit, it might well be short-lived as Real Madrid host Las Palmas later tonight and will fancy their chances of securing all three points. Barcelona have had their problems this season, but they are only one point off leaders Real Madrid as things stand and are very much in the argument for the title as the business end of the campaign draws close.
No team has scored more La Liga goals than Barcelona (65) this season, while the Catalan giants have the second best defensive record (20) behind Villarreal (18). It was imperative that Barcelona won their last two in the league in a bid to stay in touch with Real Madrid, but it was far from straightforward, needing a couple of late Messi goals to collect six points from an available six.
Indeed, a late Messi penalty saw Barcelona record a 2-1 win at home to lowly Leganes on February 19, before the Argentine hit a late winner against Atletico at the weekend. A 2-1 success at the Vicente Calderon was a massive result in Barcelona's season and the champions now face back-to-back home games against Sporting Gijon and Celta Vigo, where they will be expecting two more wins.
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Barcelona will contest the final of the Copa del Rey against Alaves in May, but their journey in the Champions League looks to be over after suffering a 4-0 defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their last-16 clash. French champions PSG will travel to Camp Nou on March 8 looking to finish the job and in truth, it is going to take a minor miracle for the Spanish champions to progress.
Barcelona might well have to make do with just a Copa del Rey trophy this season, but the players will still be confident of challenging for the title. Real Madrid are in the driving seat, but the Catalan giants have a very healthy set of fixtures up to a home game against title challengers Sevilla on April 4. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have been far from convincing over the last couple of weeks.
As for Sporting Gijon, a total of 17 points from 24 matches has left Rubi's team down in 18th position in the table. They have only won four league games this season, drawing five and suffering 15 defeats. It has been a very tough campaign, but they are only two points behind 17th-place Deportivo La Coruna and have showed some signs of improvement in the last couple of weeks.
#RSGnews @Douglas_lateral : "Disputo cada partido como si fuera el último"
— Real Sporting (@RealSporting) February 27, 2017
📹VÍDEO completo en https://t.co/Ya0azidBXi pic.twitter.com/d2SxcQRQK6
Indeed, Sporting Gijon have collected four points from their last three matches – beating Leganes on February 12, before picking up a point in a 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo at the weekend. Sandwiched between those two results, however, was a 4-1 defeat at home to Atletico Madrid and their recent results against Barcelona suggest that tonight is going to be a very uncomfortable night.
The Red and Whites survived by the skin of their teeth in La Liga last season – finishing in 17th position after gaining promotion from the Segunda Division during the 2014-15 campaign. A poor first half to this season saw Abelardo lose his position as head coach, and 47-year-old Spaniard Rubi is now the man in charge of first-team affairs at Sporting Gijon. It is a tough gig!
Tonight is a tough ask for Sporting Gijon, but they have a massive game at home to Deportivo this weekend, before visiting Valencia and hosting Granada in their next two. Whether they stay in the league is not going to depend on results against the likes of Barcelona, rather their performances against the teams around them. Right, we are now just under 10 minutes from kickoff at Camp Nou.
145 - Barcelona have scored 145 goals in their last 44 games in La Liga at Camp Nou, an average of 3.29 per game. Union. pic.twitter.com/1mDox51jZh — OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 1, 2017
Here we go then - both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of the first period at Camp Nou. The home supporters will be expecting a strong performance from their team!
KICKOFF! Sporting kick things off at Camp Nou...
... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. The supporters have turned up in their numbers and will be expecting to see some goals from the champions. In truth, this is a bit of a free hit for Sporting - their focus might well already be on Deportivo this weekend.
Just a word on formations - Rafinha is indeed playing at right-back for Barcelona. It had been suggested that the home side would play a 3-4-3, but it appears to be a 4-3-3, with Rafinha and Alba at full-back. As expected, Barcelona have been in control of the early possession on home soil.
Rafinha looks to bend one into the top corner, but his effort is wide of the post.
Barcelona continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field, but Sporting have managed to ride the pressure thus far. Rafinha is finding all sorts of space down the right and the Brazilian is seeing plenty of the ball at the moment. It has been a decent start to proceedings at Camp Nou.
Plenty of possession for Barcelona in the last few minutes, but the home side are yet to test Cuellar between the sticks. Neymar attempted to slide a cute pass into Luis Suarez inside the Sporting box, but Babin was alive to the threat and was across with the challenge. Still goalless in Barcelona.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Sporting (Messi)
Not goalless anymore! Barcelona make the breakthrough in the ninth minute as Messi beats the offside trap before heading a Mascherano pass over Cuellar. The away side were looking for an offside flag, but it stayed down and Messi has sent the champions ahead on home soil.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Sporting (Suarez)
Barcelona score a quick-fire second as Neymar finds Suarez with a wonderful pass and the striker rounds Cuellar before finding the back of the net courtesy of a hack from Juan Rodriguez!
I suspect Barcelona's second goal might well be credited to Juan Rodriguez. I am not sure if Suarez's effort was actually finding the back of the net. We shall soon find out from the league.
You fear for Sporting at this point of the match. Barcelona are having so much of the ball and they look capable of scoring each time they break into a dangerous position. I feel sorry for Sporting's lone forward Castro, who has barely had a touch of the ball inside the opening 16 minutes here.
Just a reminder that as things stand, Barcelona are returning to the top of the table. However, Real Madrid would have the chance to move above Barcelona once again when they host Las Palmas later tonight. As for Sporting, it does appear that the strugglers are going to remain in the bottom three.
It is almost like a training game for the home side at the moment as they continue to pass and probe, keeping hold of the ball in forward positions. It is not great for the neutral to be honest!
CHANCE! Barcelona have a super chance to score a third as Messi finds Rafinha inside the Sporting box, but the Brazilian's low effort is wild! Needed a bit of composure there.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Sporting (Castro)
Now then! Sporting are back in this match as Castro converts from close range after Burgui's low effort had hit the post and dropped to the forward. Not sure about the defending from Barcelona!
BOOKING! Burgui (Sporting) is booked for a foul on Messi.
Super football from the home side as Neymar finds Messi, who looks to slide a pass into Suarez, but Babin is across to make a smart challenge and Sporting manage to clear the resulting corner after a header from Rakitic. It does appear that there are plenty more goals in this match.
GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Sporting (Suarez)
Oh my word, what a strike! Barcelona have their third of the night as Suarez rattles a wonderful volley into the top corner after Babin's header had dropped for the centre-forward. Wow!
Well, we have already seen four goals at Camp Nou and something tells me that the scoring is not finished. Sporting are a threat when they manage to break forward, but they are leaving so much space down the other end and Barcelona do not need a second invitation to seek more goals here.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining at Camp Nou and Barcelona continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. The champions are set to return to the top of the table.
Burgui's pace is causing Barcelona some problems here and there is no question that Sporting will fancy their chances of scoring another goal tonight. The problem, however, is that they could concede six or seven. I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals in this match.
Just a reminder that Real Madrid will host Las Palmas later tonight, and you can follow that match live with us from 8.15pm. By that point, the Madrid giants will expect to have dropped to second. Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last couple of minutes at the home of Barcelona.
Not quite happening for Barcelona at the moment as a couple of passes from Suarez fail to find the desired target. Not too much of an atmosphere inside the stadium, meanwhile, and that is a reflection of matters on the field. The tempo is not exactly booming at this point of the match.
Neymar will be keen to get himself on the scoresheet tonight, but the Brazilian has not been majorly involved in this first period. The pressure continues as Suarez forces a corner, but Sporting manage to clear their lines. Still 3-1 Barcelona as we approach the end of the first period here.
SAVE! Burgui brings a smart save from Ter Stegen and Alba has to dive in to challenge Castro as Sporting threaten to score a second at Camp Nou. Excellent from Burgui!
SAVE! Wonderful save from Cuellar as the Sporting goalkeeper keeps out a low effort from Neymar, who had raced clear of the away side's defence before going for goal!
BOOKING! Castro (Sporting) is booked for a tug on Neymar.
BOOKING! Neymar (Barcelona) is booked for dissent.
HALF-TIME: Barcelona 3-1 Sporting
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barcelona leading Sporting Gijon 3-1 at Camp Nou. The pick of the goals was a sensational Luis Suarez volley in the 27th minute and as things stand, Barcelona are returning to the top of the table ahead of Real Madrid.
STATISTICS! Barcelona have dominated the possession with 70%, while they have had 12 attempts - four of which were on target. As for Sporting, the relegation-threatened side have managed two attempts on target and have been a threat against a wobbly Barcelona defence. Three bookings to report in the first 45 minutes of action - Burgui (24 min), Castro (45 min) and Neymar (45 min).
BENCH WATCH! Gomes, Iniesta, Alcacer and Roberto are among those on the Barcelona bench tonight and Luis Enrique will surely make changes as the second period develops tonight. As for Sporting, head coach Rubi has attacking options in the shape of Cop, Rodriguez, Traore and Vesga.
RESTART! Barcelona resume the action on home soil...
BARCELONA SUB! Alcacer has replaced Luis Suarez for Barcelona.
SPORTING SUB! Victor Rodriguez has replaced Danilo for the away side.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Sporting (Alcacer)
Barcelona have their fourth of the night and Alcacer has just his second league goal of the season as the Spain international converts from inside the box after another assist from Messi.
Another half-chance for the home side as Messi dances into the Sporting box and looks to pick out the bottom corner, but the Argentine's effort is deflected just wide of the post. The visitors are in all sorts of trouble at the moment as they continue to concede possession. More goals in this surely!
Just a reminder that Real Madrid host Las Palmas tonight and you can follow our live minute-by-minute coverage of that match from 8.15pm UK time. Barcelona are heading to the top of the table, but victory for Real Madrid would see them lead the division into this weekend's fixtures.
BOOKING! Juan Rodriguez (Sporting) is booked for chopping Neymar to the deck.
Sporting have not been out of their own half in the early stages of the second period and Barcelona look capable of scoring each time they quicken the pace in the final third. Alcacer's movement takes him into the away side's box, but the offside flag prevents the possibility of a fifth goal.
Half-chance for the away side, but Babin heads harmlessly over the Barcelona goal.
Victor Rodriguez fells Denis and Barcelona have a free kick just outside the Sporting box...
... CROSSBAR! Messi's chipped free kick hits the top of the crossbar.
SPORTING SUB! Isma Lopez replaces Burgui for the away side.
BARCELONA SUB! Gomes replaces Messi for the home side.
Little under 30 minutes of football remaining at Camp Nou and Barcelona are very, very comfortable as they keep hold of the possession. Rakitic has a pop from distance, but his effort is wide of the post. Neymar will be absolutely desperate to get himself on the scoresheet tonight.
Juan Rodriguez is fortunate to escape a second yellow after pulling Rakitic to the deck.
GOAL! Barcelona 5-1 Sporting (Neymar)
Neymar is indeed on the scoresheet as the Brazilian's free kick beats Cuellar!
So, Neymar, Messi and Luis Suarez all on the scoresheet for Barcelona tonight and the Spanish champions are returning to the top of the table. I call that a good night for under-fire Enrique.
Victor Rodriguez has shown bits and pieces in the final third for Sporting, but the visitors have always been second-best in this match. Sporting's attention must now switch to this weekend's clash against Deportivo, which is absolutely massive in their battle against the drop.
BARCELONA SUB! Roberto replaces Rafinha for Barcelona.
I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the scoring tonight as Barcelona continue to put pressure on Sporting's defence, which has been very leaky during this match.
Ter Stegen has to race out of his goal to clear a short Alba back-pass, which gave Castro something to chase. Barcelona, despite their strong position, have again looked unsure at the back during stages of this match. There is no question that is an area of concern for the Catalan side.
SPORTING SUB! Alvarez is replaced by Vesga in Sporting's final change.
Little over 10 minutes of football remaining at Camp Nou and Barcelona continue to break forward in search of more goals. Rakitic is one player that continues to have a go from distance.
SAVE! Cuellar tips a low Rakitic effort wide of the post!
Neymar sends one wide of the post after a corner is half-cleared to the Brazilian.
Quite a scrappy game at the moment as the referee is forced to intervene following a couple of late challenges. Alba rattles the crossbar from distance, but the whistle had already been blown!
More nervy defending from the away side as Juan Rodriguez turns a Mascherano cross over his own crossbar for a corner. Sporting have not exactly helped themselves during this match.
Supporters are starting to make their way towards the exit as the clock ticks into the final moments at Camp Nou. It has been a very professional performance from the Spanish champions tonight.
GOAL! Barcelona 6-1 Sporting Gijon (Rakitic)
From a narrow angle, Rakitic finds the back of the net with a thumping finish!
We are into stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes at Camp Nou.
FULL-TIME: Barcelona 6-1 Sporting Gijon
So there we have it. Barcelona run out 6-1 winners over Sporting on home soil to return to the top of La Liga. Now it is over to Real Madrid! Thanks for joining our live coverage once again.
