Sporting 0-5 Barcelona: Life without Messi begins with a Neymar masterclass

Sporting 0-5 Barcelona: Life without Messi begins with a Neymar masterclass

Neymar scored twice as Barcelona came through their first game without the injured Lionel Messi with a 4-0 win against Sporting Gijon. 

Luis Suarez had opened the scoring in the first half, with Rafinha and Arda Turan also on target as Barça ran riot at El Molinon on Saturday. 

A lot has been made of Messi’s latest groin injury, but the truth is that with a fit Suarez and Neymar -- plus the rest of the quality Luis Enrique has as his disposal -- Barça shouldn’t have too much to fear while missing their talisman. 

In Messi’s absence, Barça lined up with Rafinha on the right of the front three, while Andre Gomes and Arda joined Sergio Busquets in a rotated midfield. 

Seconds after Gomes had missed the game’s first real chance in the 29th minute, his midfield companion Arda produced the pass of the afternoon to create the opening goal. 

The Turkish international spotted the run of Suarez, who had managed to stay onside against Sporting’s high press, and the Uruguayan managed to beat goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar to the ball. 

Once in the clear, Suarez rolled the ball into the empty net. 

If that goal had taken a while in the making, the second one didn’t need as much time to brew, with Rafinha heading home minutes later. 

Sergi Roberto galloped down the right and delivered into the box, with Rafinha diving low to score his second goal in his last two starts for the Blaugrana. 

The second half was for Roberto -- who is beginning to show signs of developing into a top quality right-back having began his career in midfield -- and Neymar. 

Roberto' cross created a chance for substitute Paco Alcacer to score his first Barça goal, but the former Valencia striker was cruelly denied by the cross bar. 

Luckily Neymar was on hand to score the rebound and minutes later Arda was in a similar position to head home another Roberto cross. 

The scoring was completed in the 88th minute when Denis Suarez rivalled Arda for pass of the match with a diagonal ball through the box to Neymar, which the Brazilian lashed home.