Sevilla 2-2 Barcelona

Luis Suarez celebrates his goal that brought the score back to 2-1 against Sevilla — Luis Suarez celebrates his goal that brought the score back to 2-1

Substitute Lionel Messi scored a sublime 89th-minute equaliser as leaders Barcelona came from 2-0 down to preserve their unbeaten La Liga record.

Sevilla looked set to inflict a first league defeat on Barca for 11 months after goals by Franco Vazquez and Luis Muriel.

Luis Suarez pulled a goal back from close range in the 88th minute before Messi equalised moments later.

Barca's leading scorer curled home his 26th league goal from outside the area.

Messi had missed both of Argentina's friendlies during the international break because of a hamstring injury and was left out of the starting line-up for this game.

Barcelona are 12 points clear at the top of the table although Atletico Madrid will cut the gap to nine if they beat Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday (19:45 BST).

Sevilla, who are sixth in the table, wasted a string of chances to seal victory when 2-0 up.

They have not beaten Barcelona since October 2015 although they will get another chance to overcome Ernesto Valverde's side when the teams meet in the Copa del Rey final on 21 April.

The teams could also still meet in the Champions League.

Barcelona are chasing a European and domestic treble and host Roma in the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, while Sevilla entertain Bayern Munich the day before.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Sevilla

Formation 4-2-3-1

1RicoBooked at 44mins
25MercadoBooked at 34minsSubstituted forLayúnat 45'minutes
4Kjaer
5Lenglet
18Escudero
15N'Zonzi
10Banega
16NavasSubstituted forNolitoat 81'minutes
22Vázquez
11CorreaSubstituted forPizarroat 72'minutes
20Muriel

Substitutes

3Layún
6Martins Carriço
8Arana Lopes
9Ben Yedder
13Soria
14Pizarro
24Nolito

Barcelona

Formation 4-3-3

1ter Stegen
20Roberto
3Piqué
23Umtiti
18Alba
15PaulinhoSubstituted forD Suárezat 77'minutes
4Rakitic
8IniestaSubstituted forAlcácerat 81'minutes
11DembéléSubstituted forMessiat 58'minutes
9Suárez
14Coutinho

Substitutes

2Nélson Semedo
6D Suárez
10Messi
13Cillessen
17Alcácer
21André Gomes
25Vermaelen

Referee:: José Luis González González
Attendance:: 37,638

Match Stats

Home TeamSevillaAway TeamBarcelona

Possession: Home40%; Away60%

Shots: Home21; Away20

Shots on Target: Home6; Away9

Corners: Home5; Away9

Fouls: Home11; Away7

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Sevilla 2, Barcelona 2.
90'+3'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sevilla 2, Barcelona 2.

90'+2'
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Denis Suárez tries a through ball, but Philippe Coutinho is caught offside.
90'+2'
Post update
Offside, Sevilla. Éver Banega tries a through ball, but Nolito is caught offside.
89'
Goal!
Goal! Sevilla 2, Barcelona 2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Philippe Coutinho.
88'
Goal!
Goal! Sevilla 2, Barcelona 1. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner following a corner.
87'
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Guido Pizarro.
87'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
87'
Post update
Attempt saved. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Denis Suárez with a cross.
86'
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Sergio Rico.
86'
Post update
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jordi Alba.
83'
Post update
Corner, Sevilla. Conceded by Gerard Piqué.
83'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Luis Muriel (Sevilla) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nolito.
82'
Post update
Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'
Post update
Foul by Guido Pizarro (Sevilla).
81'
Substitution
Substitution, Sevilla. Nolito replaces Jesús Navas because of an injury.
81'
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Paco Alcácer replaces Andrés Iniesta.
79'
Post update
Attempt saved. Jesús Navas (Sevilla) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Éver Banega.
77'
Post update
Attempt missed. Jesús Navas (Sevilla) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
77'
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Denis Suárez replaces Paulinho.

As It Stood

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Barcelona	30	23	7	0	76	15	61	76
2	Atl Madrid	29	19	7	3	49	14	35	64
3	Real Madrid	30	19	6	5	76	33	43	63
4	Valencia	29	18	5	6	57	31	26	59

5	Villarreal	29	14	5	10	40	33	7	47
6	Sevilla	30	14	4	12	39	46	-7	46

7	Girona	30	12	8	10	44	43	1	44
8	Real Betis	29	13	4	12	49	53	-4	43
9	Celta Vigo	30	11	7	12	46	43	3	40
10	Getafe	29	10	9	10	35	27	8	39
11	Eibar	29	11	6	12	36	43	-7	39
12	Ath Bilbao	30	8	12	10	30	34	-4	36
13	Leganés	29	10	6	13	25	35	-10	36
14	Espanyol	29	8	11	10	26	37	-11	35
15	Real Sociedad	29	9	6	14	51	52	-1	33
16	Alavés	29	10	1	18	26	45	-19	31
17	Levante	30	5	13	12	26	44	-18	28

18	Las Palmas	30	5	6	19	21	61	-40	21
19	Dep La Coruña	29	4	8	17	26	60	-34	20
20	Malaga	29	3	5	21	16	45	-29	14

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Comments

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52 comments

Comment posted by WizardXel, at 22:55 31 Mar 2018
The best there is, ever has been, ever will be. He just changes a game! It’s not exactly science as to why the moment he comes on suddenly Barcelona become unbeatable, he’s simply the best
Comment posted by Celts, at 01:43 1 Apr 2018
Forget the goal, the game simply turned on its head the moment he entered the pitch!

It's no exaggeration to say that Sevilla were dominating and should have been 4 or 5 up. As soon as Messi came on Barca were far the better team.

Ronaldo is a great goalscorer but that's the only way he affects matches. Messi can dominate a match without scoring. He is like Ronaldo and Iniesta rolled into.
Comment posted by Coolverine, at 00:30 1 Apr 2018
The little magician does it again, simply class.
Comment posted by Kerry, at 23:20 31 Mar 2018
No more superlatives left for the greatest player ever to put on a pair of boots.
Comment posted by nosferatubites, at 00:15 1 Apr 2018
Normally the cliche "you just couldn't write it" would apply. With Lionel Messi you can.
Comment posted by U16847745, at 08:07 1 Apr 2018
When God was making Messi he must have decided I'm not going to make the tallest man or the most handsome man but I'm going to put magic in those feet.....unbelievable player.
Comment posted by BILLC, at 08:51 1 Apr 2018
Its not over till its over...especially once Messi comes onto the pitch.But Oh Sevilla you should have been 6 or 7 up by then!! Those missed chances came back to haunt them. Still what a fantastic game
Comment posted by winter62, at 08:48 1 Apr 2018
Its unfortunate that like Best, Messi is not part of an international team good enough to win the world cup (Pele and Maradonna were in teams that at the time were good enough to do so). Re 13. Hart Foundation - 11th player = Eusebio?
Comment posted by Terry, at 07:50 1 Apr 2018
Smply the best. Ever
Comment posted by AF83, at 12:26 1 Apr 2018
Sevilla only team close to beating Barcelona this season some conception for United fans but more a message to Jose that attacking football wins matches
Comment posted by MahaloNuiLoa, at 11:53 1 Apr 2018
If Sevilla's Muriel hadn't been so greedy, this would have been Barca's greatest humiliation of all time. 5 or 6 goals for Sevilla would not have been an exaggeration BUT......on comes Messi and it's all change. His goal was sublime.
Comment posted by U16873573, at 10:26 1 Apr 2018
"Substitute Lionel Messi scored a sublime 89th-minute equaliser..."

Supersub .
Comment posted by fossit, at 09:00 1 Apr 2018
Messi you beast
Comment posted by a_proud_devil, at 02:37 1 Apr 2018
Football is Messi's bitch. No doubt.
Comment posted by blackdog, at 00:19 1 Apr 2018
Suarez currently the worlds best striker
Comment posted by taffyfromfleet, at 10:54 1 Apr 2018
I was in a bar in Paris when England lost to Iceland. Pretty much everyone laughed when England lost to Iceland - it's not just the Welsh (though I had a bit of a snigger myself)...
Comment posted by TangoLima, at 15:02 1 Apr 2018
I half followed the game online, Barca sounded poor and I thought they'd left it too late. I bailed out with 20 mins as thought it done and dusted. Saw final score 2:2 - watched the highlights last night.
Despite his controversial character Suarez reads the game brilliantly, and is right up there.
Barca always play to attack and win and will give you opportunities . . . which you have to take.
Comment posted by 18Rangers72, at 14:56 1 Apr 2018
Barca v city final in Kiev imho Barca by a goal🏆🇪🇸
Comment posted by Egoistic, at 12:30 1 Apr 2018
20. he was injured. 30. you clearly didnt wath the whole match, sevilla have themseves to blame. Messi came on and they all panicked literally. He is really the #GOAT
Comment posted by Lost Sock, at 12:17 1 Apr 2018
I guess the BBC have run out of Womens football and Man United related articles, however tenuous they might be (boy who once saw Old Trafford on TV wins lottery) so we get full on articles about a Spanish team that's already won the league drawing a game. I wouldn't mind but, I was out yesterday and missed the English scores. They're missing already, yet this is here and Ibra scoring? Priorities.

Line-ups

Sevilla

Substitutes

Barcelona

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Comments

Join the conversation

Comment posted by WizardXel, at 22:55 31 Mar 2018WizardXel

Comment posted by Celts, at 01:43 1 Apr 2018Celts

Comment posted by Coolverine, at 00:30 1 Apr 2018Coolverine

Comment posted by Kerry, at 23:20 31 Mar 2018Kerry

Comment posted by nosferatubites, at 00:15 1 Apr 2018nosferatubites

Comment posted by U16847745, at 08:07 1 Apr 2018U16847745

Comment posted by BILLC, at 08:51 1 Apr 2018BILLC

Comment posted by winter62, at 08:48 1 Apr 2018winter62

Comment posted by Terry, at 07:50 1 Apr 2018Terry

Comment posted by AF83, at 12:26 1 Apr 2018AF83

Comment posted by MahaloNuiLoa, at 11:53 1 Apr 2018MahaloNuiLoa

Comment posted by U16873573, at 10:26 1 Apr 2018U16873573

Comment posted by fossit, at 09:00 1 Apr 2018fossit

Comment posted by a_proud_devil, at 02:37 1 Apr 2018a_proud_devil

Comment posted by blackdog, at 00:19 1 Apr 2018blackdog

Comment posted by taffyfromfleet, at 10:54 1 Apr 2018taffyfromfleet

Comment posted by TangoLima, at 15:02 1 Apr 2018TangoLima

Comment posted by 18Rangers72, at 14:56 1 Apr 201818Rangers72

Comment posted by Egoistic, at 12:30 1 Apr 2018Egoistic

Comment posted by Lost Sock, at 12:17 1 Apr 2018Lost Sock

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Saturday 31st March 2018

As It Stood

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Comment posted by WizardXel, at 22:55 31 Mar 2018

Comment posted by Celts, at 01:43 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by Coolverine, at 00:30 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by Kerry, at 23:20 31 Mar 2018

Comment posted by nosferatubites, at 00:15 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by U16847745, at 08:07 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by BILLC, at 08:51 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by winter62, at 08:48 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by Terry, at 07:50 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by AF83, at 12:26 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by MahaloNuiLoa, at 11:53 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by U16873573, at 10:26 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by fossit, at 09:00 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by a_proud_devil, at 02:37 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by blackdog, at 00:19 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by taffyfromfleet, at 10:54 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by TangoLima, at 15:02 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by 18Rangers72, at 14:56 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by Egoistic, at 12:30 1 Apr 2018

Comment posted by Lost Sock, at 12:17 1 Apr 2018