Barcelona travelled to Elche on Saturday looking to move one point behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
The away side led 1-0 at the break courtesy of a smart finish from centre-back Gerard Pique.
It got worse for Elche just before the hour when Lionel Messi made it 2-0 from the penalty spot and moments later, Faycal Fajr picked up his second yellow card to leave the hosts with 10 men.
Neymar added two more late on in the space of three minutes to make it 4-0, before Messi added his second after 88 minutes.
Barca were not finished, however, with Pedro adding a sixth in stoppage time.
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 Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero as Elche welcome Barcelona. The home side have not beaten Barca in the league since 1974. Since then, they have lost 10 and drawn four of their 14 matches with the Catalan outfit. Will that change here?
The two sides recently met in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey and it was Barca that advanced 9-0 winners over the two legs, which included a 4-0 victory in this stadium on January 15. Barca, who sit second in La Liga, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Copa quarter-final, but they now trail the league leaders Real Madrid by four points.
Elche, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last three in the league – winning twice in the process. Back-to-back victories over Athletic Bilbao and Levante have moved Fran Escriba's side out of the drop zone and into 16th. However, they are just one point ahead of 18th-place Almeria at this stage of the season.
TEAMS
ELCHE: Tyton; Damian, Enzo, Pelegrin, Cisma; Adrian, Pasalic; Aaron, Faycal, Victor; Jonathas
BARCA: Bravo; Montoya, Pique, Bartra, Alba; Mascherano, Xavi, Rafinha; Neymar, Messi, Pedro
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. Can Elche end this torrid run of form against Barcelona? The home side get the first 45 minutes underway.
As expected, the away side have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes, with Neymar already causing problems down the left. You just get the feeling that Elche need to ride out the opening 15 minutes or so here. Barca are in good form at the moment and look in the mood.
Elche will certainly reply on Jonathas to provide their threat this afternoon, with the forward in good form at the moment. The home side have not had too much possession in the early moments, though.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the early minutes, but Elche have just started to enjoy some possession, with Aaron running at Alba down the right. The away side are down the other end with Messi, but the Argentine cannot feed a pass into Neymar and the home side have a goal kick.
Elche can be pretty pleased with their opening nine minutes to this match, as Barca continue to struggle in the final third. The referee has been more involved than he would have liked, meanwhile, following a number of late challenges. Can Elche score the first goal? That is the test for the home side.
Elche have a free kick just outside the Barca box as Mascherano brings Jonathas to the ground. It is Fajr that stands over the set piece, but his effort moves harmlessly wide of the post. Poor from Fajr.
Barcelona have a free kick outside the Elche box this time as Messi is chopped to the ground. The Argentine, of course, stands over the set piece, but his effort hits the wall. Alba picks up the pieces outside the box, but his effort flies high of the crossbar. Still goalless with 13 mins played.
Possession football from the away side as they continue to pass and probe in the Elche half. However, they are struggling to make the breakthrough, which is certainly pleasing the home supporters.
Elche attempt to break forward when Aaron floats a pass beyond the Barca defence, but Jonathas was in an offside position and the linesman answered the call. It has been a tame 18 minutes thus far.
BOOKING! Cisma (Elche) is booked for a late challenge on Messi.
CLOSE! Messi takes the resulting free kick, but his effort just drops wide of the post. Good grief that was close! Best chance for Barca inside the opening 21 minutes here.
Jonathas has a half-chance for the home side after breaking past Pique, but the striker's effort just moves wide of the post. That said, Jonathas was flagged offside and it would not have counted.
CHANCE! Another chance for the home side as Fajr breaks into the Barca box, but his low effort is saved by Bravo. All this possession for Barca, but Elche look dangerous on the counter here.
Fajr has another opportunity as he curls a free kick towards the bottom corner, but Bravo is down to make the save. Good pressure from the home side as a corner causes concern for Barca.
BOOKING! Aaron (Elche) is booked for a tug on Pedro.
Barcelona won 4-0 at Elche in the last round of the Copa del Rey, but they have found it more difficult thus far this early evening. Little over 15 minutes of the half remaining and the score remains 0-0.
Just a reminder that Luis Suarez is on the bench for Barca here and it would not be a surprise to see the striker introduced in the second period. Pedro has thus far struggled to influence proceedings.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Barca to take the lead as Messi floats a wonderful cross towards the far post, but somehow Neymar clips wide of the goal. He just had to score there.
BOOKING! Pelegrin (Elche) is booked for a late challenge on Pedro.
GOAL! Elche 0-1 Barcelona (Pique)
Barca take the lead with 36 minutes on the clock as Pique fires one into the back of the net after collecting a quick free kick from Xavi. Excellent from the centre-back there.
Pasalic looks for an immediate reply for the home side, but his effort is straight at Bravo.
Elche need to be really careful that they do not concede a second goal here as Barca continue to break forward. Messi looks in the mood - well he has done for the last few months.
BOOKING! Jonathas (Elche) is booked for a poor challenge on Mascherano.
BOOKING! Fajr (Elche) is now booked for a poor challenge on Rafinha.
Another half-chance for the away side as Messi threads a wonderful pass into Pedro, who rolls one towards the bottom corner, but his effort just misses the post. It would not have counted, however, with the offside flag raised. It must be said that the opening 44 minutes have just flown past here.
HALF-TIME: Elche 0-1 Barcelona
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barca leading 1-0 courtesy of a fine strike from Pique. Elche were aggrieved with the award of the goal after Xavi had taken a quick free kick, but the referee saw no problem. The home side have work to do ahead of the second period.
STATS! Barca have dominated the possession with 71%, but they have only had one attempt on target, which brought their goal. Elche, meanwhile, have hit the target with three of their four attempts. Elche have also picked up five yellow cards following a number of late and feisty challenges.
BENCH WATCH! The home side do not have too many options on their bench here, but Cristian Herrera and Coro are both available. Barcelona, meanwhile, have the likes of Iniesta and a certain Luis Suarez to call upon. Will either manager make a change at the interval? Unlikely at this stage.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Barca keep pace with Real Madrid at the summit of La Liga? Barcelona get the second half underway.
No changes from either side at the interval, which is not much of a surprise at this stage of the match. However, I suspect that alterations will occur as the second period gathers pace in Elche.
It has been a bright start to the second period from the home side, with Aaron and Fajr already causing problems. However, the former's cross is hacked clear inside the area, before Pique releases Pedro down the other end. You just get the feeling that the next goal will be just crucial this evening.
Messi remains the most likely for the away side as the Argentine drops his shoulder before playing a fine pass towards Neymar, but Pelegrin is across to clear the danger. Just a reminder that the home side have five players on bookings at this stage of the match and therefore need to be very careful indeed.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Barca as Messi floats an excellent cross onto the head of Alba, who places one into the path of Neymar, but Tyton just manages to smother the Brazilian.
PENALTY BARCA!
Pelegrin brings Neymar to the ground and Barca have a penalty. The centre-back is a shade fortunate to remain on the field having already been booked. Messi will take the spot kick.
GOAL! Elche 0-2 Barcelona (Messi, pen)
Messi makes it 20 league goals for the season with a calm penalty into the bottom corner.
Game over? Quite probably. How can Elche respond from this position?
RED CARD! Fajr (Elche) is sent off for a late challenge on Neymar. Second yellow card for the midfielder and he is gone. This was bound to happen due to the number of yellows.
Well, the home side are 2-0 behind and down to 10 men against arguably the form team in world football right now. I am not sure that I fancy their chances of a comeback truth be told.
SUB! Elche make their first change as Albacar replaces Cisma.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the away side to make it 3-0 as Xavi finds Pedro with a stunning pass, but the Spaniard's effort is pushed wide by Tyton. Excellent goalkeeping there.
BOOKING! Mascherano (Barca) is booked for a late challenge on Suarez.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side as Victor finds Pasalic with a fine cross, but the midfielder fires his effort high and wide of the crossbar. Elche are still threatening here.
Alba has the chance to score number three for the away side after finding space outside the box, but his effort was always moving high and wide of the crossbar. Little over 20 minutes of football remaining and Barca are in complete control. Still no movement on the Barca bench, though.
BOOKING! Alba (Barca) is booked for a late challenge on Aaron.
GOAL! Elche 0-3 Barcelona (Neymar)
Super, super goal for the away side as Neymar, who is now onto 13 league goals for the season, collects a pass from Messi before finishing into the bottom corner. Barca at their very best here.
SUBS! Double change for Barca as Adriano and Busquets replace Alba and Mascherano.
GOAL! Elche 0-4 Barcelona (Neymar)
Oh my good grief what a goal. Barca have their fourth and Neymar has his second as the Brazilian volleys a stunning Messi pass into the back of the net. Neymar assisted by Messi once again.
SUB! Elche have made their second change with Lomban replacing Gonzalez.
SUB! Barca make their third change as Roberto replaces Xavi.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few moments, but the away side are in total control of the possession. It has been another supremely impressive performance from Barca.
BOOKING! Lomban (Elche) is booked for a late challenge on Messi.
Messi takes the resulting free kick, but his effort is straight into the goalkeeper's arms.
SUB! Elche make their final change as Aaron is replaced by Coro.
Elche have the chance to break as Jonathas leads a positive counter for the home side, Suarez eventually picks up the ball in a wide area, but Adriano is across to clear the danger for the Catalan outfit.
Jonathas has a problem for the home side following a heavy collision with Busquets.
Jonathas and Busquets are both fit to continue as we approach the final couple of minutes.
GOAL! Elche 0-5 Barcelona (Messi)
Messi has his second of the match as the Argentine collects a fine pass from Bartra before rolling his effort into the bottom corner. Elche just cannot wait for this match to be over.
We are into the first of three additional minutes here.
Barca are keeping possession as we approach the final minute of football.
GOAL! Elche 0-6 Barcelona (Pedro)
Barca have their sixth as Neymar drives into the Elche box before rolling a cross into Pedro, who cannot miss from close range. It has been a stunning second period for the Catalan outfit.
FULL-TIME: Elche 0-6 Barcelona
So there we have it. An incredible night for Barcelona as they thump Elche 6-0 to move just one point behind the leaders Real Madrid. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
