Barcelona 6-0 Sporting Gijon: Luis Suarez scores four as Barca go top

Luis Suarez scored four as Barcelona sprung back to the top of La Liga after a 6-0 thumping of Sporting Gijon.

Lionel Messi got the ball rolling with a first-half header before Suarez scored four, including two penalties, with Neymar also getting in on the action with a spot-kick, to hand Barcelona an easy victory.

Barca had fallen down to third place earlier in the day after wins for Atletico and Real Madrid, but shot back to the top on goal difference above Diego Simeone's men with this victory. 

Suarez's latest glut of goalscoring means he's now the league's top scorer, with 34 goals, taking over from Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 31.

Sporting defender Ognjen Vranjes was sent off for a second booking for fouling Neymar for the third penalty.

Barcelona stay top of the Primera Division due to their superior head-to-head record with Atletico Madrid, who also have 82 points, while Real Madrid are third with 81.

Last Wednesday Barca got their faltering title bid back on track with a thumping 8-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna, where Suarez scored four and set up three.

Although they ended the game scoring for fun, Barca struggled at first to break down struggling Sporting, where coach Luis Enrique began his career.

Messi had a chance to open the scoring as early as the third minute, but headed Sergi Roberto's cross over the bar.

Sporting created a clearer chance down the other end on a counter, Miguel Angel Guerrero setting up Alex Menendez, who could only shoot tamely at Claudio Bravo.

Barca punished them a couple of minutes later. Andres Iniesta swung the ball into the box and Sporting goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar came out to contest Suarez for the ball and got there first, but could only send the ball bouncing up into the air, and Messi crouched low to head it looping into the net.

The Argentine later produced a delightful pass to leave Neymar free with just Cuellar to beat, but the goalkeeper won this battle.

Sporting then squandered a double chance to level on the stroke of half-time, Javier Mascherano diving in to block a shot from Pablo Perez, and the rebound fell to Barca loanee Alen Halilovic, who was denied by Gerard Pique.

Barca spent the second half searching for a second to kill the game off.

After missed chances from Jordi Alba and Neymar, their efforts paid off. Messi created space with a jinking run through the middle and released Iniesta in the area, the Spaniard rolling the ball across the face of goal for Suarez to tap in at the far post, although the Uruguayan looked fractionally offside.

The goal took Suarez level with Ronaldo on 31 strikes for the season, and he edged the Portuguese 11 minutes later by slamming a penalty into the top corner after substitute Roberto Canella handled in the area.

He showed no remorse either with his next penalty, awarded after Neymar was barged over in the box, and the Brazilian was able to get on the scoresheet after being fouled by Vranjes, who was shown a second yellow card.

Suarez had the last word though, receiving the ball in the area from Messi and rattling it in off the near post.