Goals from Rafael Marquez and Samuel Eto'o had put Barca in control, and although Sporting threatened to put the cat among the pigeons by pulling a goal back through Antonio Tonel, Xavi's late strike ended any chance of shock comeback. Looking to put their disappointing start to the Primera Liga season behind them, Barca started in determined fashion and Andres Iniesta fired just over before a heavy touch from Eto'o denied the Cameroon international a great chance.
Leo Messi then went agonisingly close with a curling 20-yard shot following a jinking run across the edge of the area. That was all in the opening 20 minutes but Barca, who are currently experiencing their worst start to a league season in 35 years after taking just one point from their opening two matches, did not have to wait much longer to make the breakthrough thanks to Marquez.
A deep corner from Xavi found Marquez in acres of space and the Mexico international headed the ball back across the face of goal and just inside the far post. That was no more than Barca deserved from a dominant first-half show that also saw Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio save long-range efforts from Thierry Henry and Seydou Keita, who also sent a shot just over.
For Sporting, their best effort in the opening period came from former Barca midfielder Fabio Rochemback, whose 30-yard free-kick stung the fists of Victor Valdes. The Portuguese visitors at least managed to go into the break just one goal in arrears, but that lasted just 15 minutes of the second half before Eto'o made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after winning the kick himself.
A poor clearance was collected by Xavi and his cross into the danger area looked set to be pounced on by Eto'o, only for the striker to get a push in the back by Fernando Abel as he attempted to head the ball.
Referee Laurent Duhamel immediately pointed to the spot and Eto'o calmly tucked home his penalty, sending Rui Patricio the wrong way. Soon after that Barca coach Pep Guardiola sacrificed Eto'o for holding midfielder Yaya Toure in a bid to tighten things up, but the switch did not stop Sporting from having a superb chance in the 69th minute.
A poor Barca clearance was picked up by Marat Izmailov and he played in the unmarked Joao Moutinho, who was only denied a goal by a half-block from the outrushing Valdes, who grabbed the ball at the second attempt. Valdes could do nothing about the goal that brought Sporting back into the game in the 72nd minute though. A free-kick from wide on the touchline by Miguel Veloso was too good for Toure to cut out and Tonel threw himself at the ball to stab it home inside the near post.
Sporting were unable to go on and force an equaliser though, and Barca should really have made it a much more comfortable final 15 minutes with Messi (two) and Iniesta both having chances to increase their side's lead.
However, Xavi finally managed to put daylight between the two sides again when he slid home a superb cross from Spain team-mate Iniesta to make it 3-1 in the 88th minute.
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