Messi-Inspired Barca come back from the brink to claim a point

It was a game that always looked like a mouthwatering encounter and so it proved as both sides played strong teams despite their upcoming Champions League clashes.

Lionel Messi was deemed not fit enough to start following his recent injury problems but he had the last laugh.

Barca were the first to threaten as Luis Suarez twice went close, but as the game went on Sevilla quickly wrestled control.

The hosts looked a yard quicker, an inch taller and much stronger than their opponents for long periods as they dominated proceedings.

- Breakthrough - 

Luis Muriel and Joaquin Correa both flicked headers narrowly wide before Sevilla found the breakthrough nine minutes before the break.

Correa was given far too much space and time down the left and he picked out Vazquez, who had somehow been left unmarked six yards out and he did the rest turning a scruffy effort home.

That goal gave Sevilla the advantage at the half and they doubled their advantage shortly after the restart.

With 50 minutes on the clock, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen did brilliantly to block Sergio Escudero's firece effort with his chest, but the loose ball dropped for Muriel and he had the presence of mind to take a touch before rolling the ball into the corner of the net to make it 2-0.

At that point there only looked like being one winner and the hosts were a constant threat on the counter-attack. 

Jesus Navas should have done better when he was sent racing clear just before the hour mark but he contrived to neither shoot not pass and the move ended with Vazquez crashing and effort into the side-netting.

Suarez hit the outside of the post after meeting Jordi Alba's low centre from the left, before Muriel and Layun wasted presentable opportunities on the counter.

- Stunning turnaround - 

In the end, the Andalusians were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal as Barca produced a stunning comeback.

Just a minute after Ivan Rakitic had seen a flicked header clip the post and with just two minutes of normal time remaining Barca were given a lifeline as Suarez volleyed home at the far post after a corner was flicked into his path.

Buoyed by that goal Barca found a leveller within 60 seconds. Philippe Coutinho pulled the ball beck to Messi on the edge of the box and his first-time effort was too precise for Sergio Rico as it snuck past the home goalkeeper at the near post to claim the visitors a share of the spoils.

 

March 31, 2018

There could have been a further late twist had Vazquez been awarded a penalty when he was felled by Alba but it wasn't to be and both sides were made to do with a point.

The draw maintains Barca's unbeaten record in La Liga, though Atletico Madrid could close the gap between the two sides to 11 points on Sunday. Sevilla remain in sixth and will be left thinking what might have been.