Sevilla v Barcelona – Story of the match

Lionel Messi came off the bench to net a stunning last-minute equaliser as LaLiga leaders Barcelona fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Sevilla.

Franco Vazquez fired the home side, who are chasing a top-five finish, into the lead after 36 minutes and there looked no way back when Colombia forward Luis Muriel added another early in the second half.

Messi, who had been carrying a hamstring problem, was sent on for the last 30 minutes and after Sevilla had missed several chances to kill off the match, Luis Suarez set up a grandstand finish before Barca’s talisman clipped in a dramatic equaliser.

Tweet of the match

Star man – Lionel Messi

Messi may have only been on the pitch for the final half-hour, but the Argentina playmaker only needed one moment of brilliance to lift his team and secure what had looked an unlikely draw.

Moment of the match

After Luis Suarez had bundled the ball in at the back post to set up a dramatic finale with two minutes left, Messi had the final say. The midfielder latched on to the ball on the edge of the penalty area before dispatching a low, left-foot shot past Sergio Rico and into the bottom corner.

Stat Attack

Barcelona’s late show in Seville saw them extend an unbeaten LaLiga run through to 37 games. Ernesto Valverde’s men are now just one away from equalling the mark set by Real Sociedad in 1980.

Ratings

Sevilla: Sergio Rico 6 (out of 10), Gabriel Mercado 6, Simon Kjaer 6, Clement Lenglet 6, Sergio Escudero 6, Steven Nzonzi 6, Ever Banega 6, Gonzalez Navas 6, Franco Vazquez 7, Joaquin Correa 6, Luis Muriel 7.
Substitutes: Miguel Layun (for Mercado, 46) 6, Guido Pizarro (for Correa 46) 6, Manuel Nolito (for Navas, 81) 6

Barcelona: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 6 (out of 10), Sergi Roberto 6, Gerard Pique 6, Samuel Umtiti 6, Jordi Alba 6, Paulinho 6, Ivan Rakitic 6, Andres Iniesta 6, Ousmane Dembele 6, Luis Suarez 7, Philippe Coutinho 6.
Substitutes: Lionel Messi (for Dembele, 58) 9, Denis Suarez (for Paulinho, 77) 6, Paco Alcacer (for Iniesta, 81) 6

Who’s up next?

Barcelona v Roma (Champions League, April 4)

Sevilla v Bayern Munich (Champions League, April 3)