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.
© SilverHub
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
© SilverHub
© SilverHub
#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
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