Saturday's early kickoff in La Liga saw Barcelona make the trip to Almeria.
Both sides had chances in an end-to-end first period, but it was the hosts that entered the break with a one-goal lead following an excellent finish from Thievy Bifouma.
Barca improved in the second period, however, and levelled through Neymar after 73 minutes, before Jordi Alba won it for the Catalan outfit late on.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Juegos del Mediterraneo as Almeria welcome Barcelona. Neither side is in particularly good form in the league, but Barca would move back to the top of the table with all three points here. Right, before anything else, let me bring you up-to-speed with the team news and there are some surprises.
TEAMS
ALMERIA: Ruben; Ximo, Trujillo, Velez, Dubarbier; Verza, Azeez, Thomas, Soriano; Jonathan, Thievy
BARCA: Bravo; Adriano, Bartra, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Rafinha; Munir, Messi, Pedro
So there we have it. Jonathan Zongo and Thievy Bifouma will lead the line for the home side this afternoon, while there is also a spot in midfield for on-loan Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey. Fernando Soriano will captain the side, meanwhile, with club skipper Corona named among the substitutes.
For Barcelona, it is a very interesting selection indeed. Adriano, Rafinha, Munir El-Haddadi and Pedro all come into the side, with Neymar, Dani Alves and Luis Suarez among those dropping to the bench. Lionel Messi retains his spot, while there is still no place in the team for the under-fire Gerard Pique.
It would be fair to say that Almeria do not have the best record against Barcelona. Of the 10 meetings between the two sides, Barcelona have won eight of them, remaining unbeaten in the process. Last season, the Catalan outfit won 2-0 in this stadium, before thumping Almeria 5-0 at the Camp Nou.
The home side made a decent start to the season – losing just two of their first seven in the league. However, since drawing 2-2 with Elche at the start of last month, they have lost to Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao and Levante, scoring just one goal in the process. They are in need of a result it must be said.
Goals have also been a major problem for Almeria, with just eight in their 10 matches. That said, despite the doom and gloom, they currently occupy 14th position in the table and have put in some positive performances. Barcelona are not in the best form themselves – could a shock occur?
Speaking of Barcelona, they will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 win over Ajax in the Champions League, but the Catalan outfit have lost their last two in the league. The defeat at Real Madrid on October 25 would have hurt them, but they also incredibly lost 1-0 at home to Celta Vigo last time out.
Back-to-back defeats in the league dropped Barca into fourth position in the table, but victory this afternoon would move them back to the summit. In fact, as it stands, just two points separates fifth-place Sevilla with the leaders Real Madrid. The title race in Spain is shaping up very nicely indeed.
Have a look what I said about this match here, alongside Barney Corkhill...
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. The away side get the half underway.
Far from a full house inside the stadium, but there is a good atmosphere. As expected, Barca have taken control of the possession in the early moments, with Rafinha and Rakitic seeing plenty of the ball. You just get the feeling that the hosts need to ride out the opening 15 minutes or so here.
Not too much to report in terms of opportunities thus far, but the away side have been in total control. Alba cuts inside before attempting to find Adriano, but Velez is on hand to clear the danger.
Better from Almeria in the last couple of moments, with Zongo causing problems to the Barca defence. The hosts manage to work the ball into the box as Soriano finds Verza, but Alba is across to clear. End-to-end football with six minutes on the clock, but still no clear opportunities thus far.
Slightly untidy period of the match in the last couple of minutes, with both sides guilty of losing possession in the final third. Almeria can be pretty pleased with their performance thus far, but the visitors have had more of the ball. Not too much to report in terms of clear opportunities.
Half-chance for the home side as Verza delivers a dangerous cross towards the far post, but Alba is across to clear with a powerful header. The resulting corner is delivered by Verza, but Bravo comes to collect. Good spell of pressure from the hosts as Barca continue to struggle in attack.
CHANCE! Barca come close to taking the lead as Messi unnerves Ruben before having two close-range attempts on goal, but the Almeria goalkeeper manages to keep the score at 0-0. Munir picks up the pieces outside the box, but once again Ruben makes a really smart save.
Messi remains the main threat for Barca as Alba attempts to find the Argentine with a through pass, but Ruben is out to clear once more. The pressure continues from the away side, but they cannot find that final ball. Still goalless with 13 minutes played in what has been a low-key affair thus far.
Alba tries his luck from distance after finding some space outside the box, but his effort was always moving high and wide of the crossbar. Almeria continue to hold strong on their own patch.
Almeria want a penalty as Azeez goes down in the box under pressure from two Barcelona defenders, but the referee is not interested. It did appear that Bartra made contact with the midfielder.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side as Verza delivers a searching free kick towards the head of Trujillo, but the Spaniard could not make contact. Any touch would have taken the ball flying past Bravo. Really good spell for the hosts here.
Not much is happening in the Barcelona midfield at the moment, with the home side certainly winning that battle. Zongo's pace continues to cause problems, but Mascherano has been equal to the danger thus far. Almeria have a dangerous corner moments later, but Velez heads over.
Barcelona really are holding on at the moment as the home side continue to deliver cross after cross into the box. The visitors do not look certain when the ball is in the air...
Half-chance for Barcelona this time as Munir drives into the box before turning away from Verza, but the Almeria captain is back to make a fine challenge. Well, 23 minutes on the clock and the home side have been the better team. Another half-chance arrives for Thievy, but the Frenchman places his effort into the arms of Bravo. Barcelona do not look very comfortable here.
Barcelona have just taken the sting out of proceedings in the last few minutes, with Rakitic and Rafinha enjoying possession in the middle of the park. The home side continue to look the more dangerous in terms of attacks, however, with Zongo and Thievy both causing problems.
You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - is going to be vital in a match of this magnitude. Almeria might be made to regret some missed chances early on, with Barcelona now starting to enjoy more and more possession in the final third of the field.
CROSSBAR! How on earth have Barcelona not taken the lead? First, Ruben denies Rakitic, who had powered a header towards the bottom corner, Messi was first on the scene, but the Argentine headed against the crossbar from point-blank range. What an incredible miss!
Half-chance for the home side as Thievy drives to the edge of the box before firing one towards goal, but his effort was always rising high and wide of the crossbar. The match has just livened up in the last couple of minutes, with that flurry from Barcelona having a strong effect.
BOOKING! Thomas picks up a booking for a lunge on Rafinha.
Little over 10 minutes of the half remaining and still the score remains goalless. Barcelona are starting to find space in the final third, however, with Almeria committing players forward.
Another half-chance for Barcelona as Munir meets a low cross from Adriano, but the youngster toes his effort high of the crossbar. Almeria restart proceedings with a goal kick.
BOOKING! Soriano is booked for a late challenge on Rakitic.
GOAL! Almeria 1-0 Barcelona (Thievy)
WOW! Almeria take the lead with 37 minutes on the clock as Thievy collects a through pass from Soriano before slotting his effort into the bottom corner. Messi lost possession up the field and moments later, his side conceded. Poor from Messi, but brilliant work from the forward.
It is difficult to take the goal away from Almeria - they have been the better side thus far. Barcelona have looked short of ideas in the final third, with Messi having to go alone too often.
Barcelona just cannot seem to cope with the pressure from the home side at the moment, with Thievy and Zongo both causing problems in the final third. The latter goes down in the box under pressure from Mascherano, but the referee is not interested. Scenes here!
It is so scrappy from Barcelona at the moment - they simply cannot keep the ball!
I suspect that Barcelona boss Luis Enrique will make some changes at the break - his team have been poor thus far. The home side continue to force the issue as the interval approaches.
HALF-TIME: Almeria 1-0 Barcelona
Wow - did anyone see that coming? The home side lead 1-0 at the interval following a brilliant strike from Thievy. Almeria deserve their lead, with Barcelona really struggling to carve out any clear chances. As it stands, the visitors are heading for their third consecutive defeat in the league.
STATS! Barcelona have utterly dominated the possession with 75%, while they have had eight attempts - three of which have been on target. Almeria, meanwhile, have managed two attempts on goal. There has also been two bookings for the home side (Thomas, Soriano).
BENCH WATCH! The home side have a host of attacking options on their bench this afternoon, with the likes of Hemed, Mendez and Wellington all available. Barcelona, meanwhile, will surely look to Suarez and Neymar as the half advances. Xavi is also in reserve for the visitors.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Barcelona respond? Almeria deserve to lead at this stage of proceedings. The hosts get the half underway.
SUBS! It will not come as much of a surprise that Barca have made two changes at the break, with Suarez and Neymar replacing the effective pair of Munir and Pedro.
Barcelona have not lost three league games on the bounce since 2003, but that record is under threat. Suarez is involved for the away side almost immediately, but his cross is collected by Ruben. Almeria will need to ride their luck this half if they are to take something from the match.
Slightly untidy start to the second period in terms of challenges, with the referee forced to intervene following a couple of late tackles from both teams. Neymar has been involved for Barca, but the Brazilian has been unable to make a telling contribution thus far. It remains 1-0 to the hosts here.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes, but Barcelona have started to force the issue in the final third. Adriano delivers a dangerous cross towards the far post, but Navarro is on hand to make the clearance. Almeria have defended very, very well this afternoon.
Half-chance for Barcelona as Messi drives down the right before delivering a cross towards Suarez, but Velez is on hand to make the clearance. The pressure continues from the resulting corner, but still no end product from the visitors. Little over 35 minutes of football remaining here.
Busquets's afternoon is summed up as the Spaniard fires high and wide after meeting a loose ball outside the box. Barcelona really need some inspiration from somewhere here...
Zongo remains a threat on the counter as the forward drives past two defenders before delivering a cross towards the near post, but Mascherano is on hand to clear. Messi does not look too happy at the moment, with his side struggling to find their tempo in the final third of the field.
It is brilliant work from Zongo once again, with the forward causing all sorts of problems with his pace on the counter. The striker just takes one touch too many, however, and the danger is cleared. Barcelona continue to struggle in the final third. Could Xavi soon be introduced here?
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side as Adriano finds himself unmarked inside the Almeria box, but his low cross is cleared by Velez. Suarez has an opportunity from the resulting corner, but Ruben makes the save. End-to-end football with 62 minutes played.
CROSSBAR! Excuse me, Suarez's effort rattled the crossbar!
Plenty of possession for Barcelona with 65 minutes on the clock, but they are still struggling to find that telling pass in the final third, with Rafinha the latest to lose control of the ball.
SUB! Barca make their final change as Xavi replaces Busquets.
Little over 20 minutes of football remaining and Almeria still lead. Just a reminder that Barcelona have lost their last two in the league and are heading for another defeat here.
SUB! Almeria make a change as Hemed replaces Soriano.
The visitors continue to force the issue in the final third with corner after corner, but they just cannot find a way through this stern defence. Neymar has a half-chance after meeting a cross at the far post, but his effort is wide of the post. Little under 20 minutes of football remaining here.
You just get the feeling that there are going to be at least two or three clear chances in the latter stages here, with the home side dropping deeper and deeper in an attempt to hold onto their lead. Barcelona have not lost three times in a row since 2003. Well, that record is now in serious doubt here.
GOAL! Almeria 1-1 Barcelona (Neymar)
Neymar comes to the rescue of Barcelona as the Brazilian turns a Suarez cross into the back of the net. Navarro did his best on the line, but couldn't prevent the ball drifting over.
It is all Barcelona at the moment, with Almeria really holding on...
CLOSE! Suarez comes close to sending Barcelona ahead after driving into the Almeria box, but his low effort just moved wide of the post. What an opportunity!
SUB! Almeria make their second change as Mendez replaces Thievy.
Little over 10 minutes of football remaining and the score remains 1-1. Almeria are dropping deeper and deeper at the moment, which is allowing Barcelona to force the issue. The visitors have their tails up and look confident of completing the turnaround in the latter stages here.
It's brilliant work from Hemed as the Almeria forward takes the pressure off his side by driving into the Barcelona half and eventually into the box, but Mascherano is across to clear.
CROSSBAR! Messi hits the crossbar for the second time this afternoon after brilliant work from Suarez. Messi likes the crossbar at the moment it must be said!
GOAL! Almeria 1-2 Barcelona (Alba)
Barcelona have indeed completed the turnaround as Alba converts a low cross from Suarez at the far post. That is two assists for Suarez, who entered alongside Neymar at the interval.
Almeria just cannot get out of their own half at the moment, with the visitors really forcing the issue. It is tough on the home side, but the pressure has paid off it must be said.
SUB! Almeria make their third change as Wellington replaces Thomas.
The home side have just managed to put together a period of pressure, but Barcelona clear the danger as they head towards a vital, vital win here. They have had to do it the hard way, but it does appear that they will be heading for the top of the table, for a few hours at least.
Neymar carries possession straight into the Almeria half - easing the pressure on his side - but the Brazilian's final pass is poor and the home side might have one last chance to attack here.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes.
Barcelona have a free kick inside the Almeria half as time continues to drift away. It does appear that the visitors have done enough to move top of the table this afternoon.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Messi to wrap up the points for the away side, but the Argentine is denied by a brilliant save from Ruben.
FULL-TIME: Almeria 1-2 Barcelona
So there we have it. Barcelona return to the top of La Liga with a 2-1 win over Almeria, who caused an almighty scare. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good afternoon!
