Pedro's goal was enough to give Barcelona their 16th league win this season with a slim 1-0 win over Sporting Gijon.

The Tenerife-born winger struck after half an hour to give Barca the lead.

Both sides had missed decent opportunities before that, but Guardiola's side were superior virtually throughout.

And the Catalans should have built on their lead as they created a host of chances in the second half.

But Sporting made it difficult and stayed in it right until the end.

Barcelona finished the first half of the league campaign unbeaten, having won 15 and drawn four of their first 19 matches.

The Catalans came into this match five points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, but Guardiola had warned in the build-up that this match would be difficult.

Many sides have come away from El Molinon empty-handed and Madrid failed to win there earlier on in the campaign.

Barca, and Guardiola in particular, had good memories of this fixture, though.

Having lost his first match in charge at Numancia last season, Guardiola's Barca could then only draw at home to Racing Santander.

But what was to come was spectacular.

Guardiola's side ended up winning all three trophies that season, before later adding three more in 2009.

And their good form began in Gijon, when everything came together in a hugely impressive 6-1 victory.

It looked as if they might run riot again in this match as Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi missed great chances early on.

Sporting had their moments as well and Mate Bilic came close after 20 minutes, but the Croatian's finish was weak and wide of the target when he really should have done better.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic then blasted over for Barca as the visitors continued to look dangerous.

But Bilic threatened once more and the striker's header was well saved by Victor Valdes after 28 minutes.

Two minutes later, Barca took the lead.

Pedro, in the side ahead of Thierry Henry, latched onto Iniesta's pass and kept his cool to fire past Sporting keeper Juan Pablo Colinas at the near post.

Ibrahimovic then almost got on the end of Messi's cross shortly afterwards as Barca sought to double their advantage.

Xavi and Iniesta missed great opportunities to extend the Catalans' lead shortly into the second period, while Juan Pablo produced a fine save to deny Ibrahimovic after that.

It was virtually all Barca now and Messi shot wide while Pedro blasted over as the Catalans piled forward, but the second goal remained elusive.

They should have wrapped it up late on, but Ibrahimovic saw his effort deflected over the bar and Pedro's shot was well saved by Juan Pablo in the last minute.

Valdes had to be alert to punch away a cross deep into injury time, but Barca deserved the win.