Lionel Messi's shot creeps under the keeper and Barcelona are gifted the lead.

Barca had it wrapped up by half time with Messi netting twice and Villa and Pedro also on the scoresheet. Esteban was dreadful in the opening 45 minutes but improved after the break before being beaten by substitute Keita for number five. Thanks for joining us.

FULL TIME: Barcelona 5-0 Almeria. A stroll in the park when you consider it was a semi-final.

We are into stoppage time and there's not a second of it!

The second leg is a formality next week and a date with Real Madrid in the final is very much on the cards.

GOAL! There it is. Number five. Messi produces a perfectly weighted pass and Keita controls it instantly before finishing with his left foot. 5-0.

There's a decent attack which is reignited when Almeria simply stand off and allow possession to be stolen back but there's no way through this time.

The match is fizzling out somewhat but the home fans seem to hope, if not expect, a late push to round things off nicely.

Another change - Jose Ortiz for Pablo Piatti for Almeria.

Hard to believe we've not had a goal this half - a pass to Messi is cut out and Almeria break but Ulloa smashes a miscue well wide.

Gabriel Milito is finally able to come on as substitute for Maxwell. He's been waiting for some time.

Messi and Iniesta work pretty patterns - Iniesta goes down but it's no penalty. Easy on the eye though.

Abidal shows some neat skills but Iniesta's cross ends up deflecting through to Esteban. Iniesta has taken over the armband.

Adriano hasn't impressed tonight. He makes a dreadful clearance that only sends the ball corkscrewing high into the air inside his own box but Pique is on hand to head away.

Crusat wins a free-kick out of Adriano - can Almeria get the ball into the box from here?

A substitution apiece. Xavi is replaced by Seydou Keita and Leonardo Ulloa is on for the disappointing Goitom.

Mascherano springs the offside trap but opts to unselfishly head across goal and the ball is cleared.

Adriano blazes another shot high and wide to groans from the Camp Nou crowd.

Afellay tries to make an impression on the left but his cross is to nobody in particular, even if it has Esteban embarrassingly groping at thin air.

Afellay feeds Pedro and it's another instinctive save by Esteban - he looks a different keeper this half.

Ibrahim Afellay replaces Villa for the home side.