Just when it looked as if Sevilla’s two goals in the final ten minutes would be enough to earn them a point, Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez combined to crush their hopes and steal a 3-2 victory for the Blaugrana.
Barcelona vs. Sevilla: Final score 3-2, Sanchez scores a last gasp winner for the Blaugrana
Sevilla’s stunning comeback in the final ten minutes of the match appeared to give them a deserved point, but Alexis Sanchez’s goal in the 94th minute ripped the victory back for Barcelona.
After taking a 2-0 lead behind goals from Dani Alves and Messi, Sevilla stormed back and pulled even with goals from Ivan Rakitic and Coke. Then Messi struck, making a magical run into the box that led to Alexi Sanchez scoring off a rebound of Beto’s initial save.
Sevilla stood tall against Barcelona in the first half and nearly made it to the break through a combination of physicality, good defending, and luck. Barca head coach Gerardo Martino was fored to make an early change in the 15th minute when Jordi Alba was unable to continue. His replacement, Adriano, would play a pivotal part of Barca finally taking the lead later in the half.
Barcelona finally broke through in the 36th minute when Adriano spotted Dani Alves unmarked on the opposite side of the Sevilla box and lifted a cross right into the path of the Brazilian fullback. Alves timed his jump and headed the ball between Beto and the near post to give the Blaugrana a 1-0 lead.
After a pedestrian pace dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half, things got a bit more interesting when Sevilla perked up and started to pressure Barca. In the 64th minute, Sevilla's Cala snuck in behind a defender on a corner kick and headed the ball into the back of the net, appearing to pull his side even. Instead, the referee whistled Cala for a foul, apparently saying he'd gone through a defender to get to the ball.
Several replays didn't show much contact, but there was apparently enough to convince the referee to blow his whistle. Ten minutes later, Barca doubled the lead as Lionel Messi blasted a Neymar cross into the top of the net while appearing to slam the door on Sevilla hopes of stealing a point.
It wasn’t over yet though.
Sevilla pulled within a goal again in the 80th minute after Gerard Pique’s slip in the box allowed Victor Machin time to find Ivan Rakitic on the right. The midfielder wasted no time beating Victor Valdés and making it 2-1 with ten minutes to play.
Barcelona’s defense went to pieces in stoppage time, allowing Coke to stand wide open in the middle of the box for an easy header. Sevilla’s players went nuts as they appeared to complete the unlikely comeback.
Nope.
Lionel Messi made a slicing run through the Sevilla defense in the 94th minute, nearly reaching the touchline before cutting a shot back that Beto blocked with his feet. The ball went right to Alexis Sanchez, though, who was lurking in front of the goal for the put back match winner.
Any attempts to describe Messi’s run using words just won’t do it justice. It was a moment of brilliance and it saved Barcelona from an embarrassing draw at home.
Sevilla: Beto; Coke, Fernando Navarro, Juan Cala, Alberto Moreno; M’Bia (Trochowski 58’), Cristoforo (Marin 69’); Vitolo, Ivan Rakitic, Jairo Samperio; Gameiro.
Goals: Rakitic (80’), Coke (91’)
Barcelona: Valdés; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba (Adriano 15’); Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta (Fàbregas 74’); Tello (Sanchez 63’), Messi, Neymar.
Goals: Alves (36’), Messi (75’), Sanchez (94’)
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