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Played
March 3, 2012 2:00 PM EST
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Attendance: 72442
March 3, 2012 2:00 PM EST
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Attendance: 72442
Top of the Match
Andrés Iniesta Luján
Barcelona
Barcelona
Andrés Iniesta Luján
Barcelona
Barcelona
Flop of the Match
Cesc Fàbregas
Barcelona
Barcelona
Gerard Piqué
Barcelona
Barcelona
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Barcelona 3-1 Sporting Gijon: Catalans leave it late to overcome stubborn visitors after Pique's red card
The Blaugrana secured a tremendous win at Camp Nou to move within seven points of Real Madrid atop La Liga table while Javier Clemente's side remains in a relegation battle.
By Daniel Quinton-Navarro
Seydou Keita scored a sensational goal 12 minutes from time to help Barcelona overcome the challenge of Sporting Gijon at Camp Nou after Gerard Pique had been sent off in the early moments of the second half.
Andres Iniesta gave Barca the lead in the dying embers of the first half before the dramatic spell after the break that saw Pique sent off. David Barral then turned home the equalizer with a deft touch at the near post. However, Pep Guardiola's side never turned away from the challenge in front of it as strikes from Keita and Xavi ensured a 12th home win of the season.
Barcelona struggled for much of the first half as it was unable to penetrate a resolute Sporting defense, but the club looked promising in the early exchanges as it dominated both territory and possession.
The Blaugrana continued to probe and came close when Adriano embarked on a burst forward beating four Sporting defenders in the process. The Brazilian worked a sight of goal but he directed his shot wide of the far post as his side came closer to taking the lead.
Sporting Gijon's solid defensive work was finally undone three minutes prior to the break. Adriano and Keita combined brilliantly, allowing the former to roll the ball across the six yard box and into the path of Iniesta who had the simplest of tasks to notch his first La Liga goal of the season.
Cesc Fabregas came close to doubling Barca's lead minutes later when he burst onto Dani Alves' through ball. He flicked a shot towards goal but Juan Pablo was there to deny the former Arsenal man with a reactionary stop ensuring his side remained in touch with the Blaugrana at the break.
In a dramatic start to the second half Pique was shown a red card after the referee adjudged the Spaniard to have denied Miguel de las Cuevas a clear, goalscoring opportunity .
And Javier Clemente responded by introducing top scorer Barral to the match and his gamble was immediately repaid. After directing the resulting free kick against the wall with his first touch, Barral's second found the back of the net when he turned home Formose Mendy's low cross.
Despite the numerical advantage bestowed upon them, Los Rojiblancos returned to their defensive duties as Barcelona looked to re-establish its lead. Iniesta replicated Lionel Messi with a superb run from deep as he turned Sporting's Galvez with a wonderful touch. He then burst forward bearing down on the oppositions defense only for his pass to be too heavy for Alexis Sanchez.
The winner came in phenomenal fashion when Keita curled home from all of 20 yards with a magnificent finish. Sanchez linked the play up brilliantly before the Mali international showed his class with an unstoppable effort.
Xavi secured all three points for the home side when he latched onto Iniesta chipped pass forward. The Spanish international then delayed the finished before touching it past a hapless Juan Pablo.
Barcelona returns to Champions League duty on Wednesday as it looks to secure a spot in the next round at the expense of German side Leverkusen, with Pep Guardiola's side taking a 3-1 lead into the second leg at Camp Nou.
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Andres Iniesta gave Barca the lead in the dying embers of the first half before the dramatic spell after the break that saw Pique sent off. David Barral then turned home the equalizer with a deft touch at the near post. However, Pep Guardiola's side never turned away from the challenge in front of it as strikes from Keita and Xavi ensured a 12th home win of the season.
Barcelona struggled for much of the first half as it was unable to penetrate a resolute Sporting defense, but the club looked promising in the early exchanges as it dominated both territory and possession.
The Blaugrana continued to probe and came close when Adriano embarked on a burst forward beating four Sporting defenders in the process. The Brazilian worked a sight of goal but he directed his shot wide of the far post as his side came closer to taking the lead.
Sporting Gijon's solid defensive work was finally undone three minutes prior to the break. Adriano and Keita combined brilliantly, allowing the former to roll the ball across the six yard box and into the path of Iniesta who had the simplest of tasks to notch his first La Liga goal of the season.
Cesc Fabregas came close to doubling Barca's lead minutes later when he burst onto Dani Alves' through ball. He flicked a shot towards goal but Juan Pablo was there to deny the former Arsenal man with a reactionary stop ensuring his side remained in touch with the Blaugrana at the break.
In a dramatic start to the second half Pique was shown a red card after the referee adjudged the Spaniard to have denied Miguel de las Cuevas a clear, goalscoring opportunity .
And Javier Clemente responded by introducing top scorer Barral to the match and his gamble was immediately repaid. After directing the resulting free kick against the wall with his first touch, Barral's second found the back of the net when he turned home Formose Mendy's low cross.
Despite the numerical advantage bestowed upon them, Los Rojiblancos returned to their defensive duties as Barcelona looked to re-establish its lead. Iniesta replicated Lionel Messi with a superb run from deep as he turned Sporting's Galvez with a wonderful touch. He then burst forward bearing down on the oppositions defense only for his pass to be too heavy for Alexis Sanchez.
The winner came in phenomenal fashion when Keita curled home from all of 20 yards with a magnificent finish. Sanchez linked the play up brilliantly before the Mali international showed his class with an unstoppable effort.
Xavi secured all three points for the home side when he latched onto Iniesta chipped pass forward. The Spanish international then delayed the finished before touching it past a hapless Juan Pablo.
Barcelona returns to Champions League duty on Wednesday as it looks to secure a spot in the next round at the expense of German side Leverkusen, with Pep Guardiola's side taking a 3-1 lead into the second leg at Camp Nou.
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Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
50 | 10 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
46 | 12 |
|
Radamel Falcao
Striker Atlético de Madrid |
24 | 5 |
|
Gonzalo Higuaín
Striker Real Madrid |
22 | 0 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
21 | 0 |