Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to lead Barcelona back from a second half deficit to defeat Sevilla 2-4 on Saturday afternoon at the Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan in Sevilla.
Messi’s first of the day was sandwiched between goals from Sevilla’s Jesus Navas and Gabriel Mercado in what was a very good first-half display from the Andalusians. But Barcelona were the better side in the second stanza with Messi at the controls, and when they needed him most, the Argentine twice found the back of the net in the second 45 minutes.
Messi would then cap his magical day with an excellent set-up for Luis Suarez’s stoppage time to score to nail down the three points at one of LaLiga’s most difficult venues.
Saturday marked the return of Samuel Umtiti to the starting XI. The Frenchman had missed the last several months with an injury but was back in the fold, while Arturo Vidal in midfield and Philippe Coutinho up top were the other notable inclusions in the Barcelona line-up.
Sevilla would strike first in classic counter-attacking fashion as Ben Yedder launched himself into the Barcelona half and right as the Barcelona defence looked to close him down, he dished to Navas on the right and the former Manchester City man swung a shot in past Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for a 1-0 lead.
But Barcelona would respond almost immediately through their talisman. Ivan Rakitic collected a ball in the left corner and crossed for Messi, who volleyed in a left-footer in Zidane-like fashion to pull the visitors level 1-1.
Sevilla were undeterred and shortly before half-time the hosts would regain the lead thanks to the playmaking of Pablo Sarabia, who deftly played a cutback pass to Mercado right before the ball crossed the end-line and the Argentine coolly curled in a right-footer to make it 2-1.
Valverde’s made two changes during the break. Semedo yielded his spot to Sergio Roberto, while Vidal was hauled off for Ousmane Dembele, creating the rare scenario in which both Coutinho and Dembele were on the pitch with Messi and Luis Suarez at the same time.
Dembele should have done much better on a brilliantly worked counter-attack in the early stages of the second half in which Coutinho, Messi and Suarez all worked to set up the chance, but the Frenchman badly scuffed his shot.
Sevilla were doing well to thwart the Barcelona attack but a poor giveaway from Sevilla goalkeeper Vaclik gift-wrapped a chance and Messi was not about to pardon it. The Sevilla stopper played a ball that went right to Rakitic, who started the triangle with a pass to Dembele and then a ball back to an unmarked Messi and after a touch the Argentine curled a shot into the top right corner to level things at 2-2.
Sevilla posed little threat in the second half as Barcelona really began to apply the pressure in search of a winning score. Their efforts would pay off handsomely, too, with Messi arriving on the scene to fire in the 2-3 match-winner several minutes from full-time.
It started with a smart second ball from Sergi Roberto to substitute Carles Alena after an initial run from Messi. Alena took a shot, which deflected off the leg of Sevilal defender Kjaer and it spun right into the path of Messi who finished past Vaclik to complete.
Messi then rounded out his sensational day with a beautifully played pass for Suarez to run onto and the Uruguayan’s chip over Vaclik would complete the 2-4 scoreline in fine fashion.
Match Sheet:
2.- Sevilla: Vaclik; Mercado (Mudo Vazquez, min. 51), Kjaer, Wober (Amadou, min. 58); Navas, Sarabia, Banega, Sergi Gomez, Promes; Rog (Roque Mesa, min. 62), Ben Yedder.
4.- Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo (Sergi Roberto, min. 46), Pique, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Vidal (Dembele, min. 46); Messi, Suarez, Coutinho (Alena, min. 79).
Goals: 1-0, min. 22: Navas; 1-1, min. 26: Messi; 2-1, min. 42: Mercado; 2-2, min. 67: Messi; 2-3, min. 85: Messi; 2-4, min. 92: Suarez.
Referee: Mateu Lahoz (Valencian).
Yellow cards: Suarez (Min. 13) for Barcelona, Pique (Min. 39) for Barcelona, Rog (Min. 49) for Sevilla, Wober (Min. 58) for Sevilla, Kjaer (Min. 80) for Sevilla.
Red cards: None.
Stadium: Sanchez Pizjuan.
Attendance: 40.661.
