Barcelona made it three wins from three matches at the start of the 2018-19 La Liga campaign courtesy of a 8-2 victory over newly-promoted Huesca at Camp Nou on Sunday night.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both scored twice for the Spanish champions, while Ousmane Dembele, Ivan Rakitic and Jordi Alba also registered during an entertaining 90 minutes of football.
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 for the 2018-19 campaign continues from Camp Nou as Barcelona welcome Huesca. Barcelona have started their title defence with back-to-back wins over Alaves and Real Valladolid, and will be looking to move onto nine points here. Huesca, meanwhile, are competing in their first ever season at this level of football, and have started the campaign with a win over Eibar and draw with Athletic Bilbao. Stay tuned for the action!
This will be a historic match for Huesca as they face Barcelona at Camp Nou in La Liga for the first time. Huesca, however, took on Barcelona B twice last term – winning the away fixture 2-0 before triumphing 2-1 on home soil. This is a slight step up though, and it will be very interesting to see what occurs. It would be some turn-up if Huesca managed to triumph in this match.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Camp Nou. Any surprises in either XI? Let's run through the two starting teams for this game...
TEAMS!
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Coutinho; Messi, Suarez, Dembele
HUESCA: Werner; Miramon, Pulido, Etxeita, Luisinho; Gallar, Musto, Melero, Gomez; Hernandez, Longo
Barcelona are unchanged from their 1-0 win over Real Valladolid last time out, with Ousmane Dembele once again joining Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in the final third of the field. Sergi Roberto starts ahead of Nelson Semedo at right-back, with Philippe Coutinho in midfield.
As for Huesca, the visitors are unchanged from their 2-2 draw away to Athletic Bilbao last time out. As a result, it will once again be a 4-4-2 formation - which is brave at Camp Nou - with Cuco Hernandez joined in the final third by Samuele Longo. More than half of the Huesca XI are loan players, with Axel Werner, Xavier Etxeita, Damian Musto and Moi Gomez also in the team here.
The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff at Camp Nou. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's start with Barcelona. As mentioned above, Valverde's team have beaten Alaves and Valladolid in their first two matches of the new league season.
Indeed, the Catalan giants opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over Alaves at Camp Nou on August 18, before recording a 1-0 victory at Valladolid last weekend courtesy of a strike from Dembele. Barcelona have not been terrific early on, but they have maximum points from two matches.
Barcelona reclaimed the Spanish title from Real Madrid last season, and they did not really need to break a sweat. Indeed, the Catalan giants won 28 of their 38 league matches – suffering just one defeat – to collect 93 points. Second-placed Atletico Madrid were 14 points behind, with Real Madrid ultimately finishing the season 17 points off the top of the table, which is quite incredible.
Malcom, Clement Lenglet, Arthur and Arturo Vidal have all arrived at Barcelona this summer, and all have settled well at the club. Barcelona ultimately fell short in the Champions League last season, and there is no question that the supporters will be expecting a better challenge in Europe this term.
The draw for the group stage of the Champions League was made last week, meanwhile, and Barcelona have been placed alongside Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur in Group B. The Catalan giants will open their campaign at home to PSV on September 18.
As for Huesca, the Aragon-based outfit are competing in La Liga for the first time in their history. Former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Leo Franco is currently in charge of Huesca, who were promoted to the top flight after finishing second in the Segunda Division last term.
Huesca have made a very positive start to the 2018-19 campaign, meanwhile, having opened with a 2-1 success at Eibar on August 19, before drawing 2-2 away to Athletic Bilbao last weekend. It really has been a strong start, and avoiding defeat tonight would be incredible for the club.
In terms of what is ahead for Huesca, they will host Rayo Vallecano in their next match after the international break, before ending the month of September with matches against Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid and Girona. Kickoff in this match is now less than 10 minutes away. Stay tuned!
Here we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff at Camp Nou. Can Barcelona make it three wins from three at the start of the 2018-19 La Liga campaign, or will Huesca record an incredible and indeed historic victory? Let's hope for an entertaining match.
KICKOFF: Huesca kick things off at Camp Nou...
... Barcelona, as expected, have immediately taken control of the possession here. Huesca will have to spend long periods without the ball, and that will be tough in a 4-4-2 formation.
GOAL! BARCELONA 0-1 HUESCA (HERNANDEZ)
Oh my word! Incredible! Huesca take a shock lead at Camp Nou as Hernandez, who is on loan from Watford, converts from close range after Longo had headed down inside the box!
Well, Barcelona have had almost all of the ball since Huesca scored, which you would expect. However, there is no question that the home side have been shocked by that early goal.
Barcelona win a free kick deep inside Huesca's half of the field, but the visitors manage to clear their lines. A pass from Alba then almost gets Dembele in, but it goes behind for a goal kick.
Dembele chops and turns inside the Huesca box, but the ball gets away from the attacker at the vital moment, and the away side have another goal kick. All Barcelona since the goal here.
Huesca are holding their 4-4-2 formation here, which is incredibly brave. It is a big pitch at Camp Nou, and Barcelona will surely create chances as they start to settle on home soil.
Barcelona continue to dominate the ball, but no real chances to report at the moment.
Suarez works some space inside the Huesca box before delivering low towards Dembele, but Miramon is on hand to make the clearance. More good defending from the away side there.
GOAL! BARCELONA 1-1 HUESCA (MESSI)
Barcelona level the scores in the 16th minute as Messi turns into the Huesca box before finding the bottom corner via the post. Wonderful feet, and excellent finish from Messi.
SAVE! Comfortable save from Werner to keep out a low strike from Dembele.
SAVE! Another decent save from Werner to keep out an effort from Rakitic!
SHOT! Gallar breaks clear for Huesca before striking towards goal, but it is comfortable for Ter Stegen. Huesca continue to commit players forward on the break here.
SAVE! Werner keeps out a close-range header from Suarez.
Huesca just need to be careful here as the pressure continues to build on their goal.
GOAL! BARCELONA 2-1 HUESCA (PULIDO OG)
Barcelona take the lead in the 24th minute as Pulido turns a low Alba cross into the back of his own net. Werner almost saved it, but the ball trickled into the back of the net!
YELLOW CARD! Luisinho (Huesca) is booked for a foul on Messi.
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and Barcelona lead 2-1 on home soil. It must be said that this has been an excellent 29 minutes of La Liga football. Credit to Huesca.
OFF THE BAR! Dembele's rasping strike hits the top of the Huesca crossbar!
Huesca are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment as Barcelona pass and probe.
Half-chance for Huesca as their captain Melero finds a little bit of space in a shooting position, but Rakitic makes the block, and the ball is easily gathered by the Barcelona goalkeeper here.
CLOSE! Messi stands over a free kick some 40 yards from goal, and the Argentine just misses the crossbar! Looked so far out, but Messi almost caught Werner out there.
Little over five minutes of the first period remaining, and it has absolutely flown past here. Huesca took a shock early lead, but Barcelona have since turned the match around to lead on home soil.
GOAL! BARCELONA 3-1 HUESCA (SUAREZ)
Barcelona have their third of the match as Alba finds all sorts of space in a wide position before delivering low into Suarez, who finds the back of the net with a smart finish!
GOAL! BARCELONA 3-2 HUESCA (GALLAR)
Incredible! Huesca have their second of the match as Gallar converts from close range! Gomez delivered a smart cross, and Gallar was on hand to find the back of the net!
SAVE! More good goalkeeping from Werner to keep out a close-range Coutinho effort.
SHOT! Coutinho misses the post with a strike from outside the box.
HALF TIME: BARCELONA 3-2 HUESCA
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barcelona leading Huesca 3-2 on home soil. It has been a wonderful first 45 minutes of football, with Huesca - on their first league visit to Camp Nou - showing that they belong at this level. More of the same please.
STATISTICS! Barcelona dominated the possession in the first half with 67%, while they had 14 attempts - seven of which were on target. Huesca, meanwhile, hit the target with three of their five attempts, and two of those finished in goals. The visitors have been so impressive here.
BENCH WATCH! Huesca boss Franco has a number of attacking options on his bench tonight, with the likes of Ferreiro, Gurler and Sastre all capable of making a difference. Barcelona, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Munir El-Haddadi, Arthur, Malcom and Vidal. Some bench!
KICKOFF: Barcelona resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops here.
OFF THE BAR! Messi breaks the offside trap before striking towards goal, but the Argentine's effort comes off the underside of the crossbar! Huesca survive conceding a fourth here.
GOAL! BARCELONA 4-2 HUESCA (DEMBELE)
Barcelona have their fourth of the match as Dembele finds all sorts of space inside the Huesca box before finding the bottom corner off the inside of the post. Excellent strike!
GOAL! BARCELONA 5-2 HUESCA (RAKITIC)
Barcelona have their fifth of the match as Rakitic collects a super pass from Messi before finding the bottom corner with a wonderful half-volley. It is just stunning from the midfielder.
SHOT! Barcelona look like scoring every single time that they break forward. Roberto has a strike this time, but it just bounces wide of the post. Huesca's defending is suspect!
SAVE! Wonderful save from Werner to keep out a low Coutinho strike!
HUESCA SUB! Gurler replaces Longo for the away side.
Little under 30 minutes of the second period remaining, and I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals. Huesca have been all over the place at the back during spells of this match.
CLOSE! Pique just misses the Huesca goal with a header from a Dembele cross!
GOAL! BARCELONA 6-2 HUESCA (MESSI)
Barcelona have their sixth as Coutinho releases Messi, and the Argentine breaks into a shooting position before finding the far corner. It is six, and it could be many more here.
Barcelona are preparing to make their first change of the match at Camp Nou.
BARCELONA SUB! Lenglet replaces Umtiti for the home side.
HUESCA SUB! Semedo replaces Gallar for the away side.
Still more than 20 minutes of football remaining in this La Liga affair at Camp Nou.
Suarez releases Dembele inside the Huesca box, but Semedo is across to make the clearance. Dembele had started the move with a wonderful piece of skill to move past Semedo.
BARCELONA SUB! Vidal replaces Rakitic for Barcelona.
HUESCA SUB! Avila replaces Cucho for the away side.
SHOT! Avila is straight into action, and sends the ball wide of the Barcelona post.
BARCELONA SUB! Arthur replaces Busquets for the home side.
Barcelona have a free kick in a dangerous area as Etxeita brings Suarez to the deck...
CLOSE! ... Messi's free kick just misses the post!
GOAL! BARCELONA 7-2 HUESCA (ALBA)
Barcelona have their seventh of the match as Alba collects a little pass from Messi before passing the ball through the goalkeeper's legs. Seven for the Spanish champions tonight.
Little over five minutes of the second period remaining at Camp Nou.
Huesca have started this season very well, but this is a reality check for the newly-promoted outfit, there is no question about that. Barcelona are moving onto nine points here.
YELLOW CARD! Musto (Huesca) is booked for a late challenge on Alba.
YELLOW CARD! Vidal (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on Gurler.
CHANCE! Suarez just heads a Vidal over-head kick wide of the far post!
PENALTY! Barcelona have a penalty as Werner brings Suarez to the deck!
GOAL! BARCELONA 8-2 HUESCA (SUAREZ, PEN)
Suarez sends the penalty into the back of the net for 8-2.
FULL TIME: BARCELONA 8-2 HUESCA
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barcelona running out 8-2 winners on home soil. Some performance from the champions! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. See you soon!
