La Liga - Sevilla 2 Barcelona 4 - Match Report
Messi scores 50th hat-trick for Barca as the Catalans come from behind to defeat Sevilla 4-2
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Match Report
Lionel Messi once again haunted Sevilla as his hat-trick secured a 4-2 win at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.
LaLiga's leaders twice went behind only for their captain to drag them ahead as he took his personal tally to 36 goals against Sevilla in all competitions before Luis Suarez netted a late fourth.
Jesus Navas and Gabriel Mercado had put Pablo Machin's side in the ascendancy, but a fourth game without a win has dealt serious damage to their Champions League ambitions.
A bold Barca line-up that included Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Messi in attack proved susceptible to the Sevilla counter-attack, with Navas marking his 300th LaLiga start with a precise finish after Wissam Ben Yedder sent him clear in the box.
Sevilla's lead lasted only four minutes, though, with Messi blasting in a fine volley from near the edge of the box after Ivan Rakitic was given time to cross from the left.
Barca continued to struggle against the Sevilla press and they found themselves behind again before the break. Ter Stegen was forced into a hasty clearance, Pablo Sarabia ran towards the byline and, as the visiting defence seemed to expect the ball to be going behind, Sarabia cut it back for Mercado to sweep home.
Ernesto Valverde brought on Sergi Roberto and Ousmane Dembele at the break and the changes should have paid dividends early in the second half, but Dembele failed to make clean contact with the ball after being teed up by Suarez.
It was an error from goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik that allowed Barca to level once more. Rakitic cut out his clearance and found Dembele, he squared to Messi, and the captain curled a right-foot strike high into the net.
With only five minutes of normal time left, Messi clipped the ball over Vaclik to put Barca ahead after Carles Alena's shot deflected into his path, and he sent Suarez through to lob the keeper in style and seal the win in injury time.
Goals/ Highlights
Goal! Game over! Luis Suarez with a chip in stoppage time as Barca go 4-2 up!
Goal! Messi grabs his hat-trick! A deft chip seemingly hands Barca all three points! 3-2!
Goal! Who else but Leo Messi! Dembele picks out Messi who lashes the ball into the roof of the net! 2-2!
Goal! Sevilla retake the lead! Gabriel Mercado ghosts in at the near post and slots the ball into the bottom corner!
Goal! Barcelona equalise in spectacular style! Leo Messi thumps a volley into the top corner.
Goal! Jesus Navas puts Sevilla into the lead! His shot arrows into the bottom corner!
Game time in Sevilla!
Live Updates
Preamble
Now for Sevilla, keep an eye out for Wissam Ben Yedder, the French international has been impressive so far this season!
Good evening! Welcome to the Live Updates of Sevilla Vs Barcelona. Can the Catalans expand their lead at the top of the table, or will an inform Sevilla stop Leo Messi & Co? As ever, join me for all the updates from the big game!