Barcelona have now caught up with the rest of La Liga after facing Sporting Gijón and getting a 1-2 away victory, thanks to goals from Lionel Messi an Luis Suárez, with Castro scoring for Sporting. In a difficult match on the road against a spirited opponent, the Blaugrana eventually came out on top and increase their lead at the top of the table to an impressive, nearly title-clinching six points. Plus, the record-setting unbeaten streak is now at 31 games. Yes, this team looks unstoppable.
FIRST HALF
A great first half saw both teams holding strongly to what makes them good in their own right: the hosts gave up the ball, parked a bus in front of the box and hoped for counter-attacking opportunities. Barça had possession, used fine player and ball movement and created good chances.
It is always hard to break a bus, though, and sometimes you need outside shots. Messi decided to take one, and fired a perfectly placed ball to the bottom corner to give Barça the lead. However, only two minutes later, Jérémy Mathieu lost a ball, found himself out of position and provided not only a fast break but also a space for Castro to capitalize and equalize for Sporting.
Just four minutes after the tying goal, Barça struck back with a beautiful goal. Messi lobbed a ball to Suárez, who shielded away his defender and passed back to Leo, who scored the second with a beautiful finish with the outside of his magical left foot.
At halftime of a high-level contest, the Blaugranes needed a little bit more control if they were to leave the Asturias with a victory.
SECOND HALF
The intensity continued, Barça still got the control, but Sporting were looking to have the ball a little more. They got extra counter-attacking opportunities, but slowly started opening spaces in the back, and the Catalans took advantage. First, Gerard Piqué played a fantastic ball to Neymar, who was fouled by the goalkeeper inside the box. Luis Suárez stepped up to the stop, and fired a rocket to the corner that was somehow stopped by a great effort from Cuellar.
But El Pistolero doesn't miss many, and when he found himself in some space on the right side of the box, he didn't hesitate to use his left foot to curl the ball away from the keeper, off the post and into the net for Barça's third goal.
With a good advantage, Barça finally took control, keeping the ball, avoiding counter-attacks from Gijón and waiting for the final whistle. It came, and now the Blaugrana have a great lead at the top of the table going into the Champions League knockouts. Perfect midweek.
Sporting Gijón: Cuellar; Lora, Meré, Lichnovsky, Canella; Mascarell, Cases; Pérez (López), Halilovic, Menéndez; Castro (Jony)
Goal: Castro (26')
Barcelona: Bravo; Vidal, Piqué (Bartra), Mathieu, Adriano; Busquets (Mascherano), Rakitic, Arda; Messi, Suárez, Neymar
Goals: Messi (24', 30'), Suárez (67')
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