Match reports

2-2: TWO DISASTROUS MINUTES BREAK SEVILLA HEARTS AND ALLOW BARÇA TO SCRAPE A DRAW

31/03/2018
An explicable draw for Sevilla FC against FC Barcelona after a more than promising 87 minutes of football. With just three minutes of regulation time to play, Suárez and Messi would cancel out Vázquez and Muriel's openers and rob Sevilla of a result to reflect their superiority

Two disastrous minutes at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán robbed Sevilla FC of a famous victory tonight, after FC Barcelona overturned a two-goal deficit to steal a point and continue their unbeaten run in La Liga Santander. After an outstanding 80 minutes of football that saw Mudo Vázquez and Luis Muriel put the Nervionenses into a deserved lead, Barça would turn to Messi and find salvation in their two iconic forwards. Suárez would scrape back the first for Los Culés on 87 minutes and Messi would be there with a curling left-footed strike just over a minute later to level the score. Hearts broken in Nervión but not without reason to be optimistic ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final with Bayern.  

Barcelona came out bright and Luis Suárez did not hesitate in making his presence known with a very early effort at Sergio Rico’s net. Starting without Messi, Los Culés looked to create through Iniesta and Coutinho but Sevilla were equal to their efforts. Looking extremely quick and dangerous on the counter, Sevilla played the opening minutes with intelligence – prioritising defensive solidity before breaking with speed when the ball was won. Despite a positive start, the Nervionenses lacked a final ball and it was Barcelona who had the more concrete chances – Suárez especially threatening.

Sevilla played the opening minutes with intelligence and looked dangerous on the counter

Correa would be the first Sevillista to have a clear strike at Ter Stegen after a beautiful bit of play from Nzonzi and Navas set him loose. Muriel would soon follow with an effort, after a Sevilla corner fell to him at the back post. Just edged off the ball, he would head wide. As the minutes ticked by, Sevilla grew more and more comfortable and looked increasingly dangerous. Though Barça would continue to fire warning shots, not long after half an hour had passed, the home side would find a deserved breakthrough.

A hung up ball for Tucu Correa on the left would lead to a cheeky ball inside the Barcelona area. Using Escudero as a decoy, the Argentine would find Franco Vázquez unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. Sweeping with his left, el Mudo would give Sevilla a deserved lead with and send Nervión wild. A deserved reward for a strong half, though as the half-time whistle went, it was clear there was a lot of work still to do.

After finding two deserved goals, Sevilla missed critical chances to kill the game for good

Come the restart, it wouldn't be long before Sevilla were able to widen the deficit. Following a cannoning left-footed effort from Escudero, the ball would fall to Luis Muriel. With bodies to beat, the Colombian would strike with his right to barely find the inside of the post. A deserved second. Sevilla were playing with passion and solidity - if anything looking the more likely of the two teams to find another goal in the match. Many would have the chance to do just that - most notably Jesús Navas - who saw a shot blocked on the line by Piqué. Muriel would follow suit, going close twice as the minutes ticked by but without the incision needed to find a third.

Looking to the bench, there would be no prizes for guessing Barça's route back into the game - Lionel Messi. With the Argentine now on the field, Barcelona found a second wind, though up until the last ten minutes, Sevilla still looked in control. Pressing with all they had, the visitors would find their lifeline through Suárez. Taking advantage of a set-piece, the Uruguayan would stab home to give Los Culés hope. And if Suárez gave Barça hope, Messi would be the man to answer their prayers. Just over a minute after 2-1, the talisman would strike from distance with his left, finding the bottom corner of Rico's net to break Sevilla hearts. 

An extremely difficult result to swallow but positive signs to take into Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich. Not long after it will be time to look to the Copa del Rey Final, where Sevilla face tonight's opponents again in the Wanda Metropolitano. A repeat performance would put Sevilla well in with a shout, though history cannot be allowed to repeat itself in any game when it comes to the two disastrous minutes that robbed Sevilla of a win today.