La Liga 2016-17: Sevilla 1-2 FC Barcelona - 5 Talking Points
FC Barcelona got back to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Sevilla to keep the pressure on the other contenders fighting for the La Liga title. The hosts, Sevilla started brilliantly and were rewarded by a Vitolo goal as Jorge Sampaoli's men went ahead early in the first half. Sevilla were going into the first half with a 1-0 lead, but a certain Lionel Messi had some other ideas as he scored just three minutes from half time.
The second half was a different story to the first as the Catalans started imposing themselves as chances began to arrive from left, right and centre. Luis Suarez finally broke his duck against Sevilla and scored the winner after an assist from Messi. The loss resulted in Sevilla falling to the fifth spot in the table and are now are six points behind toppers, Real Madrid. Let's take a look at the five talking points from a thrilling encounter which took place at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium:
1. Lionel Messi was on an altogether level than the others:
Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli exclaimed before the match that there should be two Ballon d'Ors given every year with one being reserved for Lionel Messi. “ One for Messi and one for everybody else " he declared and the Argentine showed just why his adulation knows no bounds from the opposition camp. Lionel Messi has now scored 27 goals in 29 games against Sevilla. Firstly, it was the goal which was scored brilliantly after some excellent work by Neymar. Messi shot with a deft touch for which Sevilla's custodian, Sergio Rico had no answer.
In the second half, he was even better as he regularly terrorised Sevilla defenders. On one occasion, he dribbled past four to five Sevilla players but shot just inches over the crossbar whereas, on another time, another brilliant run saw him laying up to Luis Suarez for Barcelona's winner. His night came to an end in an anti-climax way as he was booked for leaving the field slowly after being fouled by Steven N'zonzi.