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Gerard
Pique struck Barcelona's winning goal
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Goals from Lionel Messi
and Gerard Pique saw Barcelona come from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1 at the Nou
Camp and equal a Spanish record of 34 games without defeat in all competitions.
Press
Association report continues:
The
visitors took the lead through Vitolo's volley but a superb free-kick from
Messi levelled the scores on the half-hour mark, and the Argentinian then laid
on a pass for Pique to put the Catalans in charge early in the second half.
Although
Sevilla continued to cause Barca problems, they held on to stay eight points
ahead of Atletico Madrid at the top of the Primera Division as well as drawing
level with the unbeaten record set by Leo Beenhakker's Real Madrid side in
1989.
While
Barca were looking to preserve their unbeaten run, Sevilla arrived at the Nou
Camp still searching for their first away win of the season. Sevilla were,
however, the last team to beat Barcelona, winning 2-1 when the sides met at the
Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium back in October.
Barca
coach Luis Enrique made five changes from the team that beat Arsenal 2-0 on
Wednesday to take a giant stride towards the Champions League quarter-finals,
including fielding former Sevilla right-back Aleix Vidal, but stuck with the
formidable attacking trident of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
Although
Sevilla were also in action in midweek, only returning from Norway on Friday,
coach Unai Emery was able to rest players for their Europa League fixture at
Molde and named a full-strength side on Sunday with the exception of the
suspended Ever Banega.
As
with against Arsenal and in many matches this season, Barca made a slow start,
constrained by Sevilla's high pressing game.
They
did create the first real chance of the game though, Vidal slipping the ball to
Suarez at the near post, but the Uruguayan was foiled by Sergio Rico.
Barca
then hit the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds. Messi took a corner and it
almost went straight in, hitting the near post, and Suarez picked up the loose
ball before seeing his shot slam against the crossbar.
But
Sevilla remained a threat on the counter and they pounced on a lapse in
concentration in the Barca defence to take the lead in the 20th minute.
Jeremy
Mathieu pushed up too high and played Michael Krohn-Dehli onside. The Dane
broke forward on the left and slid the ball into the path of Benoit
Tremoulinas, and Vitolo met his cross at the back post to volley into the far
bottom corner.
It
was the 10th time Barcelona had conceded the first goal this season, but did
not panic when they went behind.
Neymar
nearly drew the hosts level almost immediately, but again Sergio Rico got in
the way.
Kevin
Gameiro could have doubled the lead at the other end but lost his footing just
as he shaped to shoot, and Barca made Sevilla pay after winning a free-kick
just outside the penalty area to the left. Messi took a short run up and span
the ball across to the far top corner with exquisite execution.
The
Argentinian had two more chances to give Barca the lead before the break, but
spurned both.
Instead
he was the provider for their next goal, uncharacteristically holding the ball
up deep in the Sevilla area and cutting it back for Pique to score.
Although
in the lead, Barca were by no means out of sight. Claudio Bravo denied Gameiro
at the near post, then Krohn-Dehli shot just wide. A cross from Steven N'Zonzi
was nearly diverted into the net by the Barca defence, and late on Vitolo's
appeal for a penalty fell on deaf ears.
Barca could also have
wrapped up the points long before the final whistle. Suarez inadvertently
blocked a goal-bound header from Sergi Roberto with his chest, and the
Uruguayan also mis-controlled when played in a couple of yards out, striking
the ball with his knee straight at Rico.
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