Busquets tries to slide a through ball into Messi’s path, but Messi has gone too early and is flagged offside, halting a promising attack.

Messi threads a through ball to Suárez, but the striker is caught offside, nullifying the move before Suárez can threaten the goal.

Messi again looks to release a runner with a through ball, this time finding Alba’s run, but the full-back is flagged offside.

Messi cuts inside and unleashes a low left-footed shot from outside the box, forcing Rui Patrício into a save down to his bottom right corner.

Arriving in the box, Messi directs a header from the centre of the area on target, but Rui Patrício is well positioned and saves in the middle of his goal.

From a tight angle on the right, Messi strikes a right-footed shot that is blocked by the defence before it can test the goalkeeper.

Moments later Messi commits a foul, stopping Sporting’s attempt to break out from the back and drawing the referee’s whistle.

Deep in his own half, Messi carries the ball under pressure and is fouled, winning a free kick that relieves the defensive pressure on Barcelona.

Messi steps up for a direct free kick from outside the box, but his left-footed effort climbs too high and flies over the crossbar.

Messi lets fly with a powerful left-footed shot from distance, but a Sporting defender throws himself in the way and blocks the effort before it reaches Rui Patrício.