Barcelona welcomed Celta Vigo to Camp Nou on Saturday night needing to win in order to return to the top of La Liga.
First-half goals from Lionel Messi and Neymar provided Barcelona with a comfortable advantage at the interval.
Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti joined the scoresheet in the second period as the hosts led 4-0 in the 61st minute, before Messi scored his second to make it five for Luis Enrique's side on the night.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
6.46pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Camp Nou as Barcelona welcome a dangerous Celta Vigo side. The Spanish champions once again have the chance to move above Real Madrid to the top of the table, but the Catalan giants have actually lost three of their last five league matches against Celta. Stay tuned for what should be an entertaining match-up from Spain's top flight!
6.49pmBetween December 2005 and March 2014, Barcelona went unbeaten in eight league matches against Celta, but the Catalan giants have found things a lot tougher in recent years. Indeed, Celta have actually won three of the last five league meetings between the two teams – including a 4-3 victory when the pair met in the reverse match in Vigo earlier this season.
6.52pmBarcelona did thump Celta 6-1 in the corresponding match last season, but Celta recorded a 1-0 victory in this stadium during the 2014-15 campaign. Eduardo Berizzo's outfit are actually the last team to have beaten Barcelona in the league, with their 4-3 success in Vigo starting a long unbeaten run for the champions. Indeed, that run has seen them claw back ground on Real Madrid.
6.55pmRight, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Camp Nou. Both teams were in league action on Wednesday night – Barcelona thumping Sporting Gijon 6-1 in this stadium, while Celta drew 2-2 at home to Espanyol. Any changes? Let's run through the XIs...
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6.58pmTEAMS!
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Rafinha; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
CELTA: Sergio; Roncaglia, Gomez, Cabral; Mallo, Radoja, Wass, Jonny; Bongonda; Aspas, Guidetti
7.02pmBarcelona boss Luis Enrique has made two changes to the team that started Wednesday's 6-1 win over Sporting Gijon, with Sergi Roberto and Gerard Pique replacing Javier Mascherano and Denis Suarez. Brazilian midfielder Rafinha keeps his spot in the XI after impressing in recent weeks, while it is once again Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the final third of the field for the Spanish champions.
7.05pmAs for Celta, key centre-back Andreu Fontas misses out through suspension, while Pione Sisto has dropped to the bench as Theo Bongonda is brought in alongside John Guidetti and Iago Aspas. Sergio Alvarez also replaces Ruben Blanco between the sticks as Berizzo shuffles his pack tonight.
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7.08pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild evening at Camp Nou. I shall speak about Celta a little bit later, but let's start with Barcelona, who will be looking for a new manager this summer. Indeed, following Wednesday's 6-1 win over Sporting, Enrique announced that he would be stepping down at the end of the season.
7.12pmBarcelona have won their last five in the league to put themselves right back in the title race, but a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash led to suggestions that Enrique was under pressure at Camp Nou. The Spaniard has since been backed by a number of senior players, but he will take a rest from football at the end of the season.
7.15pmSince taking charge of Barcelona in 2014, Enrique has led the Spanish giants to two league titles, two Copa del Reys and the Champions League, which is quite impressive to say the least. There will be no announcement on his successor until the end of the season, and there is still plenty to play for this term. Their Champions League journey looks to be over ahead of the quarter-finals, but they will face Alaves in the final of the Copa del Rey in May and are very much in the argument for the title once again.
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7.18pmThree straight draws between November 19 and December 3 saw Barcelona lose ground at the top of the table, but they have won nine of their last 11 in the league to move onto 57 points. They topped the table entering this weekend's matches, but Real Madrid beat Eibar 4-1 this afternoon to move two points clear at the top of the table, on the same number of matches (25).
7.22pmBarcelona have only lost twice in the league this season and their last defeat, as mentioned, came away to Celta on October 2. Since then, the performances have not always been there, but the results have continued to arrive. As well as thumping Sporting and Alaves over the last few weeks, they have recorded very important wins at home to Athletic Bilbao and away to Atletico Madrid.
7.25pmIn terms of what is ahead for the Spanish champions, they will welcome PSG to Camp Nou in the Champions League next Wednesday looking to turn around that 4-0 defeat from the first leg in Paris. It is going to be a serious task for Enrique's team, but stranger things have happened. Barcelona will also face Deportivo (A) and Valencia (H) in the league before the end of the month.
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7.28pmAs for Celta, Berizzo's side will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw at home to Espanyol on Wednesday night. That result saw them drop down to 10th position in the table, but they are only four points off seventh-place Eibar and still have a game in hand over the teams around them. As discussed above, Celta have also caused Barcelona plenty of issues in recent seasons.
7.32pmIt has been a busy few weeks for the Sky Blues due to their Europa League commitments, and an impressive two-legged victory over Shakhtar Donetsk saw them book their spot in the round of 16, where they will take on Krasnodar. It has been an inconsistent league campaign, but they have only lost one of their last five in Spain's top flight and certainly have the players to harm Barcelona tonight.
7.35pmSince gaining promotion to La Liga in 2012, Celta have finished 17th, ninth, eighth and sixth in Spain's top flight. They are certainly on course for another top-half finish this term, but they missed out on a wonderful chance to make the final of the Copa del Rey after losing 1-0 on aggregate to Alaves in the semi-finals. That was a really big blow for Berizzo's side.
7.38pm
3 - Eduardo Berizzo has won more times against Barcelona under Luis Enrique in La Liga than any other manager. Bielsism. pic.twitter.com/HcjOEgumOt
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 4, 2017
7.42pmHere we go then - both sets of players have joined us on the pitch for the first period of action. Barcelona, of course, are the favourites tonight, but Celta are sure to provide very tough opposition. Be sure to stay tuned for minute-by-minute updates of all the action from Camp Nou.
0 minKICKOFF! Barcelona kick things off on home soil...
2 min... as expected, the home side have taken control of the possession in the early exchanges at Camp Nou. Celta will sit deep and attempt to absorb the danger, before threatening on the counter-attack. The visitors have a lot of talented attackers in their team tonight, that is for sure.
4 minYou just get the feeling that Celta need to score first tonight if they are to stand a chance of securing a positive result. No real surprises in the early moments of this match as Barcelona continue to dominate the ball. We are still waiting for the first serious attack of the game, though.
6 minIt has been a good spell for Celta in the last few moments as Guidetti brings his teammates into play in Barcelona's half of the field. The visitors are settling nicely with six minutes on the clock.
7 minCabral barges Luis Suarez to the deck inside the Celta box, but the referee is happy with the challenge and play continues with a goal kick. Not an awful lot else happening at the moment.
8 minNeymar turns on the after-burners as he drives away from Mallo down the left before delivering into the Celta box, but Gomez is on hand to make the clearance. Barcelona on the front foot here.
10 minJust a few signs that Barcelona are starting to click here as Messi and Neymar both show their brilliance in tight positions. Celta, however, manage to survive a couple of hairy moments and clear the ball down-field. There is not much of an atmosphere inside the stadium tonight!
13 minBongonda is very high for Celta at the moment and the number seven certainly has space to attack down Barcelona's right. Guidetti, meanwhile, continues to use his frame in the final third of the field. We are still waiting for the first attempt on target with 13 minutes on the clock at Camp Nou.
14 minSAVE! Wonderful from Neymar and Messi as the two South Americans exchange little touches before Messi smashes the ball towards the corner, but Alvarez makes a smart save.
15 minHalf-chance for Neymar, but his chipped effort was always swerving wide of the post.
16 minConcern for Barcelona as Messi goes down holding his knee...
17 min... it looked pretty serious, but Messi is back on his feet and looks to run it off!
19 minPOST(S)! Suarez and Messi both hit the post in quick succession as Celta survive a couple of very dangerous moments. The visitors are riding their luck at the moment here!
20 minBOOKING! Busquets (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Bongonda.
22 minHalf-chance for Celta this time as Umtiti's loose clearance falls to Roncaglia, but the midfielder's effort is wide of the post. This match is opening up nicely with 22 minutes on the clock here.
23 minBarcelona want a penalty as Mallo upends Neymar inside the box, but the referee says no!
24 minGOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Celta (Messi)
25 minStunning, just stunning. Barcelona make the breakthrough in the 24th minute of this match as Messi dribbles through a host of challenges before picking out the bottom corner with a curling effort. Messi has been back to his very best tonight and that is a goal worthy of the Argentine.
27 minBarcelona look in the mood tonight as they continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. Neymar and Messi are absolutely running this game at the moment and another combination between the two sees Rafinha have a strike deflected over the crossbar. Celta are in trouble here.
30 minLittle over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and Barcelona are in complete control of affairs at Camp Nou. Celta just need to find a way of stopping Neymar and Messi - not too bad then!
32 minLuis Suarez turns inside the Celta box after being released by Rafinha, but there are no takers on the striker's cross. The ball is recycled and Messi has a go from distance, but Mallo blocks the ball behind for a corner. The visitors just cannot seem to stop the flow of traffic at the moment.
34 minAs long as the score remains 1-0, Celta will always be in the match, but a second for Barcelona would make things very complicated for the visitors. We have not seen an awful lot from Aspas in the opening 34 minutes of this match, but there is still a lot of football to be played tonight.
35 minCHANCE! Rafinha creates space inside the Celta box and looks set to bend one into the corner, but his effort is straight at Alvarez. Should have done better from there.
36 minBOOKING! Cabral (Celta) is booked for a late challenge on Suarez.
38 minMessi stands over a free kick outside the Celta box, but his effort is into the stands.
38 minBOOKING! Radoja (Celta) is booked for a late challenge on Neymar.
40 minGOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Celta (Neymar)
41 minThis is Barcelona at their very best. The home side take a two-goal lead on the night as Messi sends Neymar into the Celta box and the Brazilian produces a wonderful chipped finish!
43 minNow then! If Barcelona can produce this performance against PSG in the Champions League next week, then anything is possible. This is the Spanish champions at their very best tonight.
45 minHALF-TIME: Barcelona 2-0 Celta
8.33pmWell, that was serious stuff from Barcelona. Two wonderful goals from Messi and Neymar have left the Spanish champions 2-0 ahead at the interval of this La Liga contest. Celta have not been particularly poor, they have just been unable to contain a Barcelona side at their very best tonight.
8.38pmSTATISTICS! Barcelona have shaded the possession with 58%, while they managed 12 attempts in the first period - four of which were on target. Celta, on the other hand, had two attempts and neither were on target. There have also already been three yellow cards at Camp Nou, with Busquets in the book for Barcelona, and Cabral and Radoja both picking up bookings for the visitors.
8.43pmBENCH WATCH! Barcelona are not exactly lacking attacking flair in this match, but the likes of Iniesta, Alcacer, Denis Suarez and Arda Turan are all available if Enrique wishes to alter proceedings in the second period. As for Celta, Rossi, Sisto and Jozabed are in reserve for Berizzo.
46 minRESTART! Celta resume the action at Camp Nou...
47 minNo changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will already have alterations in mind for the second period. If Barcelona get a third goal, their attention will surely switch to the Champions League clash with PSG next week.
49 minIt has been a decent start to the second period from Celta, with Aspas and Bongonda starting to find space in wide positions. One goal for the visitors would certainly change the atmosphere.
49 minBOOKING! Gomez (Celta) is booked for a late challenge on Neymar.
50 minCHANCE! Roberto bursts into the Celta box after space had opened for the Barcelona right-back, but he cannot find a route past Alvarez, who is out to make the save.
51 minHalf-chance for Neymar this time as the Brazilian finds space inside the Celta box, but he gets it all wrong and it curls harmlessly wide of the post. Celta are under more pressure here.
51 minCELTA SUB! Sisto replaces Bongonda for the away side.
53 minI would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals in this match as Barcelona continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. Celta, meanwhile, now have some serious pace in the final third of the field and Aspas is also starting to see more of the ball in dangerous positions.
55 minNice bit of possession for Celta in the last couple of minutes, but they are struggling to seriously threaten the Barcelona defence. Still plenty of time for that to change though.
57 minGOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Celta (Rakitic)
58 minBarcelona have their third of the night and surely secure all of the points as Rakitic sweeps home from close range after Rafinha had burst into the Celta box. Looked just offside though!
61 minLuis Suarez will be keen to join Messi and Neymar on the scoresheet tonight, but the striker has not had too many chances in this match. He hit the post in the first period, but has not had too much else to feed on. As the match continues to open up, however, more chances are bound to arrive.
61 minBARCELONA SUB! Mascherano replaces Busquets for the home side.
61 minGOAL! Barcelona 4-0 Celta (Umtiti)
62 minBarcelona have their fourth of the night as Umtiti, who had stayed forward from a corner, converts a low Messi cross for his first Barcelona goal. What a moment for the French centre-back!
62 minCELTA SUB! Jozabed replaces Guidetti for the away side.
64 minGOAL! Barcelona 5-0 Celta (Messi)
65 minCelta are being torn apart here. Barcelona have their fifth of the night and it is Messi with his second as the Argentine drives down the right before cutting inside and finding the bottom corner!
67 minHalf-chance for the away side this time as Wass finds space inside the Barcelona box, but the midfielder can only place his effort wide of the post. Really should have tested Ter Stegen.
68 minBARCELONA SUB! Iniesta replaces Roberto for Barcelona.
69 minCELTA SUB! Diaz replaces Wass for the away side.
70 minBARCELONA SUB! Denis Suarez replaces Neymar for Barcelona.
72 minLittle under 20 minutes of football remaining at Camp Nou and Celta just want this over before things get worse. Barcelona are seeking more goals as they look to return to the summit in style.
74 minNot an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes, with Barcelona happy to just keep hold of the ball in non-threatening positions. It is job done for the Spanish champions here.
76 minCHANCE! Messi drives towards the Celta box and looks set to complete his hat-trick, but the Argentine attempts to pick out Luis Suarez and the block is made!
79 minLuis Suarez continues to buzz around in the final third as the striker looks to join the scoresheet. It is not often that Barcelona score five times and Luis Suarez is not among the goals!
81 minAspas has the chance to threaten from a 25-yard free kick, but the former Liverpool attacker curls the ball into the stands and that just about sums up Celta's night. The visitors have not been able to lay a glove on this brilliant Barcelona team, who have sent out a message to Real Madrid tonight.
83 minHalf-chance for the home side as Luis Suarez bursts into the Celta box and looks for a cross into Denis Suarez, but there is too much weight on the ball and the visitors survive a dangerous moment.
85 minAspas continues to cause Barcelona problems, but it is too little, too late from the Spaniard. Celta have come up against a Barcelona team at their very best tonight, that is for sure.
87 minPossession football from the home side in the last couple of minutes as they look to close out the five-goal win. The Spanish champions are returning to the top of the table ahead of Real Madrid.
89 minSome of the football from Barcelona tonight has been absolutely wonderful. Another passing move almost ends with Luis Suarez having a shot on goal, but the ball just runs away from the striker as Celta survive. I should not think that there will be too much injury time at the end of this game.
89 minSAVE! Alvarez keeps out a close-range Denis Suarez header.
90 min+1Aspas drives into the Barcelona box, but his low effort is wide of the post.
90 min+2We are into the second of three additional minutes at Camp Nou.
90 min+3FULL-TIME: Barcelona 5-0 Celta
9.38pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period at Camp Nou to a close with Barcelona running out 5-0 winners over Celta as the Spanish champions return to the top of La Liga ahead of Real Madrid. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
