Welcome to live coverage of Barcelona's away trip to Sporting in La Liga.

Again Sporting hammer clear under extreme pressure, with Alves involved in much of the play.

Alves racing down the right flank, cutting in and has a path to goal... he doesn't cross but opts to shoot - blocked and hacked away!

A Maxwell cross is headed away with Pedro arriving.

Alves to the byline again and there are men over in the box for Barca... Messi will strike - low to the near post where Cuellar again saves, palming around the post!

Alberto Botia does enough to deny Messi as the pressure builds and builds.

Alves with a one-two, skipping over a challenge and pulling back for Xavi... great save from Cuellar following the low shot - he then grabs the loose ball into his arms!

The far touchline littered with debris thrown by irate fans at various points.

Incredible pinging passes between the stars in turquoise before Messi snatches his half-volley wide. That would have been some goal, with three of the touches on the volley!

Relentless attack now from El Barca, winning a free-kick here. Messi clips a quick one over that is headed away.

The ball into Villa's feet near the byline inside the box... the home defenders are keen to not commit a foul and Cuellar eventually takes the ball into his arms. It must feel so good to him.

Some space for Villa on the right, but his pass inside for Messi is poor.

Messi crowded but finds a team-mate - when the ball reaches Maxwell, he is tackled.

Villa so nearly free in the box - the Sporting defence deny him and clear the subsequent corner.

Barcelona will attack the goal to our right - and at a goal down, you expect that they'll be doing plenty of that.

Pedro on for Afellay as the players come out for the second half.

He raked his studs down the midfielder's Achilles after grabbing hold of his shorts. Iniesta is okay, if unhappy about it... Xavi's kick runs through to Cuellar. And that is half-time.

One minute of added time to play... Iniesta is fouled from behind by Novo and they have one more chance.

Valdes all alone to catch and deliver towards Villa. Out of play.

Free-kick to Sporting in the dying stages of the half. This is the stiffest test of Barca's resolve for some time.

Afellay not doing a lot except deliver passes to put team-mates under pressure. Maxwell almost keeps the ball in after battling to win it - the ref is right there and judges that it crossed the byline.

Sporting succeeding in playing high up the pitch, denying Barca space.