A stoppage-time goal from Alexis Sanchez earned Barcelona a dramatic 3-2 win at Camp Nou against Sevilla on Saturday.
In a rollercoaster encounter, the Chilean forward proved the difference as he struck the winner deep into injury time to seal the points for the Catalan giants after Unai Emery’s men had almost completed a superb comeback.
Gerardo Martino’s side had dictated the match for long spells and took the lead nine minutes before half-time when Dani Alves nodded Sergio Busquets' cross in, before Lionel Messi doubled the lead in the second half.
Two goals in the last 10 minutes threatened to give Sevilla reward for their persistence, as Ivan Rakitic and Coke struck, but just as he did before the international break, Messi helped to inspire his side to victory again as he laid on a sublime goal for Sanchez to spare Barca's blushes.
Barca made just two changes from the team that picked up three points away to Valencia prior to the international matches courtesy of a Messi hat-trick, with Cesc Fabregas and Pedro missing out in favour of Xavi and Cristian Tello.
Meanwhile, Sevilla, who went into the match without a league win this season, made four changes from their 2-2 home draw against Malaga as Javi Varas, Diego Perotti, Carlos Bacca and Bryan Rabello were replaced by Beto, Vitolo, Jairo Samperio and debutant Sebastian Cristoforo.
Emery’s team were on the back foot from the start and Neymar almost gave Barcelona the lead in the third minute as he shot across goal, but Beto tipped his effort around the post - a recurring theme in the first 15 minutes.
Sevilla eventually grew as an attacking force, but at the other end of the pitch Neymar continued to wreak havoc. Visiting right-back Coke had no answer to the Brazilian’s close ball control and he set Tello up for two chances in quick succession, but Beto saved on both occasions.
For all their good defensive work, though, Sevilla could not keep Barcelona at bay until half-time as Busquets crossed from deep and Alves arrived at the back post with a late burst to head home against his old club in the 36th minute.
After growing into the match again, Sevilla thought they had levelled in the 64th minute as Cala headed Rakitic’s corner past Victor Valdes, but the centre-back was cruelly adjudged to have fouled Gerard Pique in the build-up.
Barcelona escaped that scare and Messi soon doubled their lead as he burst in front of Fernando Navarro and knocked the ball in from close range after Neymar's low cross.
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