Luis Enrique's side strolled to an emphatic 5-0 win at Sporting Gijon to make light of the Argentine's absence through injury. On this evidence, they can manage while he is out

No Lionel Messi, no problem for Barcelona. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is sidelined for three weeks through injury after straining his adductor against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, but Neymar, Luis Suarez, Rafinha and Sergi Roberto showed on Saturday that the Blaugrana should be just fine without him.

Barca cruise to 5-0 win in Gijon
Much like last season, when Messi injured his knee at home to Las Palmas in late September, it was Suarez who scored first.

The Uruguayan's movement gave the Sporting back line plenty to think about and he found space to roll in the opening goal after 29 minutes, before Rafinha made it 2-0 shortly afterwards. And late in the game, Barca added three more through Neymar (two) and Arda Turan.

With Messi sidelined, Arda and Andre Gomes started alongside Sergio Busquets in midfield, with Rafinha as a right forward, Neymar on the left but free to roam and Sergi Roberto linking up effectively from a defensive position. It worked well. While Sporting's midfield restricted spaces as much as they could, they were reduced to making tactical fouls to keep Barca at bay.

But that can only work for so long and, ultimately, Barca's superiority saw them take control and, once Alberto Lora had been sent off for a second bookable offence with 16 minutes left, the Catalans ran riot.

Sergi Roberto ended the match with two assists, played a big part in the third goal as he set up Paco Alcacer whose shot hit the post before Neymar's finish, provoked the second yellow card for Lora, kept a clean sheet and was impressive throughout.


"I watch a lot of matches and I don't see any right-back better than Sergi Roberto," Luis Enrique said afterwards. "At least for Barca, who will always have the ball. I'm thrilled that he is fitting in comfortably in that positon, although he can also play as a 'pivot' and as an 'interior'."
Lucas Digne also did well, while Neymar and Rafinha were effective on the flanks and the Barca boss added: "We were better on the wing. The two full-backs did well, especially Sergi. I'm happy with how they did, although I am sure we can get better."

It was a complete performance in the end and a routine victory for Barcelona which saw them move provisionally top of the Primera Division ahead of Real Madrid's match at Las Palmas later on Saturday.


More importantly, it was a morale-boosting win which followed the 1-1 draw against Atletico and, in the absence of Messi, the champions seemed comfortable for most of the afternoon.


There will be a few tougher tests to come with Messi missing, of course, including the Champions League clash away to Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday, but on this evidence, Barca will be just fine without their Argentine attacker.