Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Barcelona 6-1 Sporting Gijon: Messi leads rout as Barca move above Real Madrid in La Liga
BARCELONA moved to the top of La Liga with a thumping victory over relegation threatened Sporting Gijon.
Messi ensures Barcelona's win against Leganes at Nou Camp
It was always going to be tough ask for the away side and they made the worst possible start, going two down after 11 minutes.
In the ninth minute, Lionel Messi met Javier Mascherano’s ball over the top with a header over Cuellar.
Two minutes later Suarez rounded the on-rushing Cuellar and shot towards goal but his effort went over the line via Juan Rodriguez.
But Gijon shocked the Nou Camp by giving themselves a lifeline when Carlos Castro tapped in from a yard after Sergio Alvarez Diaz’s shot hit the post.
However Gijon’s confidence lasted just five minutes as Suarez rifled a stunning volley past Cuellar to restore their two-goal.
It got no better for Gijon after the break as half-time substitute Paco Alcacer took just four minutes to find the back of the net when finished well from a Messi lay-off for just his third goal of the season
Barcelona's Lionel Messi heads a ball for scoring a goal against Sporting Gijon's Cuellar
Messi nearly got his second of the night but his delightful dink from a free-kick clipped the crossbar.
In the 66th minute Neymar showed Messi how to score from a free-kick when he curled a wonderful effort into the top corner.
Then with three minutes left, Ivan Rakitic completed the rout with a rasping drive past Cuellar after a one-two with Sergi Roberto in the area.
The three points see Barca reclaim top spot with eyes switching to the Bernabeu to see whether Real can beat Las Palmas and move top again.