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

Ibrahim Afellay, making his full Liga debut today, with his first meaningful touch on the right - but after passing Angel the full-back recovers to make a successful challenge.

Better possession football from the Blaugrana. When Angel makes a no-nonsense tackle to give away a throw, there is a roar of approval from this vociferous crowd.

You imagine the tapas bars will be celebrating on the streets of Madrid right now. On that note, the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Real Madrid on April 20 will be played at Valencia's Mestalla stadium.

Jose Angel blazes the free-kick over.

Javier Mascherano with a terrible tackle from behind to cut down Barral. Yellow card.

El Molinon absolutely rocking as they celebrate taking the lead against the champions.

GOAL FOR SPORTING!!! Barral scampers into the box, cutting inside Pique, before evading Milito and picking out the bottom corner! Superb finish!

Maxwell does well to shepherd the ball out.

A bit of a shock to the Barca system as the 13th-placed side take the game to them.

The kick is blocked and Messi races towards halfway with the ball at his feet... David Barral clatters him from behind! Yellow card - he stumbled into him. Looked deliberate though.

Diego Castro fouled by Dani Alves, according to referee Perez Lasa. There didn't seem much wrong with the challenge.

Wild first-time strike from distance is a couple of yards over from Andre Castro! It seemed the wrong decision to take that on - but wasn't that far away.

A crossfield ball is just reached by the head of Maxwell for a home corner. Three times the turquoise-clad Barca defenders hack clear, and Gerard Pique is not happy about it.

Sporting win possession but soon enough it is back with the away defence. However the home side take control of the ball and pass it around to acclaim from their fans.

Iniesta drives the ball across the final third for Messi, winning a corner.

David Villa spreads the play as Barcelona counter, but the home side defend it and have a goal-kick.

Sporting going for it, as promised by their coach Manuel Preciado. Barca clear the corner.

De las Cuevas with a strike from the corner of the box which takes a deflection and is just wide.

Miguel de las Cuevas attacks down the left side of the box and Gabriel Milito goes to ground with him! No free-kick or penalty awarded.

Lionel Messi skipping across the pitch and threding one through for Andres Iniesta to shoot first-time from the left side of the box. Ivan Cuellar makes the save at the near post.

There is a good atmosphere inside this Gijon ground, so far exhibited by whistling while Barca pass the ball about.