Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of tonight's La Liga clash between Deportivo La Coruna and Barcelona at the Riazor Stadium.
Deportivo have found life tough on their return to La Liga this season and sit in 18th position with just six points from their opening seven matches.
Meanwhile, Tito Vilanova's Barcelona currently top the pile with six wins and a draw – last time out against Real Madrid – to their name.
The home side have the added incentive of knowing that a win would move them out of the drop zone, but they lost 4-0 to Barcelona the last time the two sides met at the Riazor in January 2011.
They have also lost their last three league matches on the spin, but will enter the match with confidence gained from a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp in May 2011.
Please note that kickoff is at 9pm.
That just about does it for me this evening. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to join us tomorrow morning from 10.30am for more La Liga football. Until then!
The result leaves Deportivo in the bottom three with eight points. Meanwhile, Barcelona extend their lead at the top of the table to three points. What a match!
Lionel Messi scored his 21st hat-trick of his career in a sensational performance. However, Pizzi was among the stars for the home side.
Oh my word! What a wonderful feast of football at the Riazor. Barcelona edge the nine-goal thriller, but both sides played their part.
Deportivo 4-5 Barcelona
Barcelona have possession of the ball as the seconds continue to drift away. Deportivo's chance appears to have gone. Unless...
... but Barcelona clear the danger. Meanwhile, we will play three minutes of added time.
It's possession football from Barcelona as we approach the final few moments. But Deportivo have forced a corner...
Desperate stuff from the home side at the moment as Camunas drives into the area, but Iniesta just clears the danger. The clock is not on Deportivo's side.
Right, we have four minutes of normal time remaining at the Riazor. You just get the feeling that there could be one final twist in this match.
It's all Deportivo at the moment as Pizzi whips a wonderful cross into the box, but Montoya clears the danger. Meanwhile, Ze Castro fires wide from close range.
Barcelona come close to their sixth as Xavi strikes a free kick from outside the box, but it just moves high of the crossbar.
We have 10 minutes remaining of this one. What an incredible evening. Meanwhile, change for Deportivo as Diogo Salomao replaces Abel Aguilar.
Oh my word! Alba lobs his own goalkeeper from inside the box. Deportivo are back in this!
GOAL! Deportivo 4-5 Barcelona (Alba own goal)
That is Messi's 21st hat-trick for Barcelona. How incredible is that? What a player this young man is.
What was I saying? Messi scores his third of the match with a thumping finish from outside the box.
GOAL! Deportivo 3-5 Barcelona (Messi)
The match has just descended into a regular pattern of Barcelona keeping possession and Deportivo breaking when they have the chance. But it remains 4-3 to Barcelona.
Deportivo just cannot gather possession at the moment. But you just get the feeling that there are chances to come in the final 15 minutes.
Half-chance for Barcelona as Montoya advances down the right, but he cannot cut the ball back to Messi. Meanwhile, the away side are in total control of possession here.
Right, we have 20 minutes of football remaining at the Riazor. There are chances to be had in this match. The home support has been really good this evening.
Nothing much to report at the moment as Barcelona continue to keep possession in midfield. However, Deportivo are pressing to good effect.
Barcelona have just killed the match in the past few moments with a period of possession. Meanwhile, the home supporters are doing their best to raise their side.
Deportivo again come close as Riki strikes an effort from inside the box, but this time Valdes does collect. That's 10 shots from the home side.
Meanwhile, third and final change for Barcelona as Fabregas is replaced by Xavi. Not a bad sub to bring on! Deportivo also make a change as Javier Camunas replaces Valderon.
Again it's decent play from Pizzi as he dances past Song before striking an effort at goal, but Valdes gathers the danger. What will the final 30 minutes bring?
Barcelona have just settled with possession in the past few moments. Another goal surely kills this one off. But you would have said that at 3-0.
Chance! Pedro so nearly scores with his first touch as he advances into the box, but he fires wide of the target.
Barcelona make another change as Tello is replaced by Pedro. Deportivo have the Catalans worried here. Still at least 35 minutes of football to play.
Change for Barcelona as Adriano replaces Villa. Alex Song and Adriano will play as the central two for the away side. Meanwhile, Deportivo flood forward once more.
MESSI! Wonderful effort from the Argentine, but his free kick smashes off the post. What a strike. This match has had everything.
Free kick for Barcelona just outside the penalty area as Messi is felled by Ayoze. It appears that the Argentine will take it.
I have seen those ones given, but it was harsh on the Argentine. What is going to happen now? Messi might have to go and play centre-back.
Red card: Mascherano: The Barcelona defender is sent off for a second yellow card. He seems to have elbowed Riki. It was slightly harsh.
The home supporters are right up for this match now. Deportivo flood forward with Gama in possession and he gains a free kick from Mascherano.
What more can I say? That was a wonderful free kick from the on-loan Braga striker. Game on at the Riazor!
What a goal! Sensational free kick from Pizzi as he bends it into the top corner.
GOAL! Deportivo 3-4 Barcelona (Pizzi)
Deportivo get us underway in the second half. What's the betting that this half brings no goals?
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of the second period. Will Barcelona put this game to bed with another goal? Or can Deportivo recover once more?
Now seems like a good point to tell you all about tomorrow. You can join me from 10.30am for Getafe vs. Levante. Meanwhile, I will also be covering Espanyol vs. Rayo Vallecano, Granada vs. Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad vs. Atletico Madrid right here on Sports Mole.
Should Barcelona be worried about their defence this season? With Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol I would say no. But with Song and Mascherno as the two central defenders, they are so open.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half. Barcelona have dominated possession with 70%, but both sides have had five efforts at goal.
However, another strike from Messi just before the interval moved Barcelona into a 4-2 lead at the break. Sensational entertainment at the Riazor.
Oh my good grief. What a half of football. It appeared to be over when Barcelona took a 3-0 lead inside 18 minutes, but two goals from the home side made it 2-3 after 37 minutes.
Deportivo 2-4 Barcelona
It might have been five for Barcelona as Tello whips a dangerous cross into the box, but Marchena just makes the clearance. Meanwhile, we will play one minute of added time.
What a half of football! Fabregas has been just delightful in this opening half. Has that now ended the match? Not on your life.
Just wonderful from Messi as he collects a Fabregas pass before firing into the bottom corner.
GOAL! Deportivo 2-4 Barcelona (Messi)
Barcelona continue to dominate possession in the middle of the park, but Deportivo look capable of upsetting the league leaders on the counter.
Can we just play through the interval? I simply do not want this half to end. There's time for a couple of goals before the break at least. Just incredible.
You just cannot write these scripts. Deportivo were down and out at 3-0. But suddenly they look capable of turning this match around.
Deportivo have their second! And it's a horror show from Valdes as he lets a Bergantinos effort slip through his grasp.
GOAL! Deportivo 2-3 Barcelona (Bergantinos)
Barcelona are now the team struggling to find the final ball as they twice hand possession back to the home side. The crowd are remaining with them at the moment.
The away side have just settled the match down in the past few moments. Deportivo continue to chase shadows as the ball is passed from side to side. Little over 10 minutes of the half remaining.
You have to admire the home side for their recovery. But you just get the feeling that Barcelona will pick them off on the counter. It is just such an open match.
Suddenly Deportivo burst into life as Juan Carlos Valeron advances down the left, but his cross is cleared by Song. Barcelona are certainly not comfortable in defence.
What was I saying about 4-3? We have had four goals inside the opening 30 minutes at the Riazor. Can I change my prediction to 4-10?
What do we have here? Pizzi puts his penalty into the bottom corner to cut the score to 3-1. Game on!
GOAL! Deportivo 1-3 Barcelona (Pizzi)
PENALTY TO DEPORTIVO: Mascherano fells Riki in the area ans the referee points to the spot.
Chance! What was I saying? So nearly four for Barcelona as Villa finds Messi, but Aranzubia makes a fine save.
Deportivo are enjoying their best spell of the match as Carlos Marchena heads over from a corner. Meanwhile, Pizzi and Riki have started to combine in attack.
Chance! Riki comes close to opening the home side's tally as he meets a cross from Gama, but his header strikes the post. Although he was offside.
First yellow card of the match is handed to Javier Mascherano as he charges into the back of Riki. What was he doing there? Is there anyone out there for 4-3?!
How do you stop Barcelona in this kind of form? It is so hard for Deportivo to stand up and compete. What is the score going to be this evening? You have to worry for the home side.
And there it is. Just wonderful from Messi as he strikes an explosive effort into the top corner. This one is over.
GOAL! Deportivo 0-3 Barcelona (Messi)
Chance! So nearly number three for Barcelona as Messi finds Villa down the left, but his cross is just too long for Tello. As it stands, the third goal appears to be coming.
Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona as they advance deep into the Deportivo half. This really could be any score tonight. But the away side are suspect in defence.
We have not seen anything from Riki and Pizzi as a front two for Deportivo thus far. The home side have nine players behind the ball as they attempt to contain the Barcelona talent.
Deportivo just cannot keep possession at the moment. Each time they take a touch, Barcelona players are on top of them. What a blistering start to this match.
That was just a bit special from the young winger. Just where do Barcelona get these players from? They produce talent time after time. It might have been three as Fabregas advanced on goal, but he was just given offside.
Tello makes it two for Barcelona inside eight minutes as the winger fires a low effort past Aranzubia.
GOAL! Deportivo 0-2 Barcelona (Tello)
As expected, Barcelona are enjoying the majority of the ball in the opening stages to this match. It is so important that Deportivo keep it tight for the next five minutes or so.
Deportivo remind us of their presence as Gama whips a dangerous cross into the box, but Victor Valdes is on hand to gather possession. Extremely open start to the match.
The pass from Cesc Fabregas was just brilliant, but the Spanish defender still had so much to do. Not the start that Deportivo would have wanted that's for certain.
Oh my word. Just wonderful from Alba as he collects possession before rolling the ball under Daniel Aranzubia.
GOAL! Deportivo 0-1 Barcelona (Alba)
Bright start from the home side as Bruno Gama advances down the right, but Alex Song is on hand to clear the danger. Just a reminder that Barcelona have three of their first-choice defence injured.
Barcelona kick us off on this mild evening in Spain. I should imagine that Deportivo will get used to chasing the ball tonight.
Here we go then. Both sets of players have joined us on the pitch. Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Let's get this match underway.
So there we have it. Cristian Tello also starts for Barcelona, but Xavi starts on the bench. Not a bad substitute to have I suppose?!
Deportivo: Aranzubia; Laure, Ze Castro, Marchena, Ayoze; Aguilar, Bergantinos; Bruno Gama, Valeron, Pizzi; Riki
Barcelona: Valdes; Montoya, Song, Mascherano, Alba; Fabregas, Busquets, Iniesta; Tello, Messi, Villa
Team News: David Villa starts for Barcelona, while Martin Montoya, Andres Iniesta and Alex Song also return. Meanwhile, Deportivo make one change from their 2-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano, with Ayoze replacing Evaldo at left-back.
The home side are on a six-match winless streak in the league, while Barcelona have won nine of their last 11 matches. On paper, it appears that we will have only one result, but football has a knack of throwing up surprises when you least expect it.
Good evening all! Two of Spain's most famous names clash at the Riazor this evening, but their aims for the season could not be more different. A win for Deportivo would move them out of the top three, but Barcelona will attempt to extend their lead at the summit with victory of their own.
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
