Meanwhile, Real moved to within three victories of winning La Liga with a 4-0 demolition of Granada.
As Barcelona try to keep the heat on Real Madrid in the battle at the top, added motivation may come in looking to end Luis Enrique's reign with a third title in as many years.
It was a game that Barcelona deserved to win as they dominated the match 69-31 per cent.
Lionel Messi was again the chief architect, scoring twice and setting up another.
Needless to say, Barcelona will be keeping a close eye on proceedings and will be praying to their football gods to help the Andalusians stop Real Madrid in their tracks.
The top three spots in Spain earn automatic berths to next season's Champions League group phase while the fourth-placed finisher must go through a playoff.
Barcelona, however, has scored a league-leading 104 goals, and it is also carrying momentum after four consecutive victories that included a 7-1 rout of Osasuna and a 3-2 win over Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium two weeks ago.
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Luis Suarez may not have hit the heights of last season this time around, but the Uruguay forward has still contributed a big share of Barcelona's goals in 2016-17.
His importance to their squad in this season can not be understated, and it is his late goals that have saved them on numerous occasions this campaign, most notably in the previous Clasico against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, where his 92nd minute strike helped blow the title race wide open.
"We know how hard it is to play against Barcelona at the Camp Nou". But the issue for Barcelona is that while their three danger men's numbers have slightly tailed off in relation to previous campaigns - Messi excluded - no one has been able to take advantage of the fact that the attention opposition players pay to them creates spaces and opportunities for others.
"Neymar is a player with exceptional characteristics", Pique told BeIn after the game. He's now scored two goals in each of his last six home league games.
However, the Blaugrana went back in front moments before half-time when Messi skipping his way past the defence and firing past Fernandez with the aid of a deflection off Mario for his 50th goal of the season.
Barca have injury concerns over Andres Iniesta, who is a slight doubt with a groin problem which has seen him miss the last two matches, although he has been in full training for the last two days, while Jeremy Mathieu could miss out as he recovers from an ankle knock. It was 18th-place Sporting's first win in seven games and their first clean sheet all season at El Molinon. "Every time they have the chance to play they take it and score".
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