Barcelona see off Sevilla, but count cost of Lionel Messi injury

Barcelona made the most of Real Madrid’s slip up against Levante by beating Sevilla 4-2, but the win was tainted by an arm injury suffered by Lionel Messi.

The result puts Ernesto Valverde’s side top of La Liga ahead of next week’s El Clasico, but there are concerns over Messi’s fitness ahead of that game, with the Argentinean feared to have sustained a broken arm.

Messi had already scored and set up Philippe Coutinho for a stunner by the time he was withdrawn after 17 minuets, putting Barcelona in a commanding position. It wasn’t until just after the hour mark that they scored a third, though, with Luis Suarez converting from the spot.

Sevilla gave themselves late hope of a fightback when a Pablo Sarabia deflected strike beat the in-form Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, but Barcelona soon re-established their three-goal cushion through Ivan Rakitic, who angled a low volley into the far corner of the net.

Luis Muriel netted a second for Sevilla in stoppage time, but it was too late in the day to matter much as Barcelona leapfrogged the visitors into top spot in the Liga table ahead of next week’s meeting with Real Madrid.

Barcelona and Real Madrid found themselves in a relatively similar position heading into the international break, without a win in their previous four games. But Real’s defeat to Levante, coupled with this win for Barca over Sevilla means that next week’s Clasico, if it goes the way of the Catalans, could open up a seven point lead between the two teams. Out of nowhere, Barca can stretch their legs at the top of La Liga.

It’s unusual for a goalkeeper to be picked out as the Man of the Match when his team has scored four and clinched all three points, but this was no ordinary performance from Ter-Stegen. This would have been a very different match for Barcelona were it not for the brilliance of their German shot-stopper. He made two double stops - one before Barca’s third goal and one before their fourth - that defied belief, with Sevilla only beating him through a deflection and a stoppage time strike. Without Ter Stegen, Barca might have lost this.

Barcelona - Ter Stegen 9, Semedo 5, Pique 6, Lenglet 6, Alba 6, Rakitic 7, Busquets 7, Arthur 8, Coutinho 8, Suarez 9, Messi 6. Subs - Dembele 5, Roberto 5, Munir 5.

Sevilla - Vaclik 5, Kjaer 6, Gomez 5, Carrico 5, Navas 6, Vazquez 6, Banega 6, Arana 7, Sarabia 6, Silva 5, Ben Yedder 6. Subs - Mercado 5, Muriel 6, Mesa 5.

3’ GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Sevilla: Golazzzzzzzzo! What a start for Barcelona and what a goal to get them off the mark! Messi and Suarez played a one-two on the edge of the box then passed it to Coutinho who struck a first-time finish high into the top corner of the net.

13’ GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Sevilla: It was inevitable from the moment he picked up the ball. Gomez backed off and backed off and allowed Messi to drive towards goal, curling a left-footed effort into the far corner of the Sevilla net. You just knew what was happening there.

17’ Messi injury! Uh oh. This is a real concern for Barcelona. Messi is writhing around in a lot of pain after an awkward fall. He is holding his right arm and this could be a problem.

25’ Messi coming off! Finally the decision is made and with his arm all strapped up Messi is taken off. The change hasn't been made yet, so Barcelona are still playing with 10 men.

63’ PENALTY KICK TO BARCELONA! Vaclik brings down Suarez and the referee points to the spot.

63’ GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Sevilla: And that should be the points wrapped up for Barcelona! It was an emphatic spot kick from Suarez who sent Vaclik the wrong way from 12 yards out. Barcelona are out of sight now, you would expect. They will go top of the table.

79’ GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Sevilla: A consolation goal for Sevilla. Ter Stegen would have made the save from Sarabia were it not for a wicked deflection off the head of Lenglet. It was with that deflection that the ball flashed past the Barcelona goalkeeper. Faint hope for Sevilla.

87’ GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Sevilla: It's a fourth for Barcelona and it's a screamer from Rakitic! The ball spun up for the Croatian midfielder just inside the box and he finds the far corner of the net with a stunning, low volley. That's game over. Barca have the points.

90’ GOAL! Barcelona 4-2 Sevilla: A second for Sevilla! If only this had come a few minutes ago. It's a lovely finish from Muriel, who finds the far corner of the net with a guided right-footed finish. As good as Ter Stegen is, he was getting nowhere near that strike.

Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more goals against Sevilla than against any other team in La Liga.