Barcelona 3 Sevilla 0
LIONEL MESSI SCORED twice on his return from suspension as Barcelona piled the pressure on Real Madrid by moving top of La Liga with a 3-0 win over Sevilla.
Messi was banned for his last two outings for club and country but looked rested rather than rusty as he took his tally for the season to 43 goals in 41 games.
The Argentine also played his part in setting up Luis Suarez’s stunning overhead kick to open the scoring.
Barca lead Real by a point, but Zinedine Zidane’s men have two games in hand, starting at Leganes later tonight (KO 8.30pm).
Madrid, though, will have to do without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale after they were rested by Zidane.
Defeat continues Sevilla’s slump and a sixth straight game without a win sees them remain three points behind Atletico Madrid in the battle for third place.
A visit to the Camp Nou offered Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli a final chance to make his case for the Barca job at the end of the season.
Sampaoli was one of the leading candidates when Luis Enrique announced his decision to step down at the end of the season last month.
However, Sampaoli was left to rue another night of missed chances as a three-goal blitz in eight first-half minutes secured the three points for the hosts before half-time.
Messi fired an early warning as he blasted a shot off the underside of the bar from outside the area after just three minutes.
Sevilla had two glorious chances to open the scoring as Steven N’Zonzi fired too close to Marc-Andre ter Stegen when clean through before Vitolo headed over when unmarked inside the area.
Suarez made no such mistake as he caught Messi’s deflected cross flush with an overhead kick to break the deadlock with his 31st goal of the season.
Barca’s star front three were all involved for their second on the counter-attack as Suarez turned Neymar’s cross back into Messi’s path to slot low past Sergio Rico.
Messi doubled his tally for the night six minutes later when he volleyed home a loose ball inside the Sevilla area.
The five-time World Player of the Year then passed up a huge chance for his hat-trick just after the break when he didn’t get enough loft on an attempted chip to beat Rico.
Sevilla had a series of chances to at least claim a consolation as Pablo Sarabia twice tested Ter Stegen with fierce efforts.
Barca could afford the luxury of replacing Suarez, Gerard Pique and Ivan Rakitic in the final half hour to keep them fresh for a huge month with both legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Juventus and a trip to Real Madrid to come in the next 18 days.
Sevilla’s misery was complete when Spanish international Vitolo was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card after chopping down Neymar.
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Idk I’m not a Liverpool fan but I can see Liverpool coming back
@Hirving Lozano: I can also see Barca scoring BTW.
@Hirving Lozano: look again!
@El_Monikerinho: get new glasses bud.
@Hirving Lozano: Do the lotto for me please ..
@El_Monikerinho: LOL!! They didn’t score. Liverpool won the game.
@El_Monikerinho: you would want to get them mince pies checked!!
Come on Barca!!!!
@John Jones: 3-3 Barca looked rocked and Annfield rocking!!
@John Jones: sap
PLEASE SHUT UP BEGLIN. Moron
@John Jones: Still watching this I hope! Lol. C’mon the Pool
@John Jones: hahaha
@John Jones: Lots of haters off to A&E with gunshot wounds to the foot ha.
@John Jones: hahahaha
All over social media of fans lettin fireworks off shouting “wake up call for Messi” to follow throwing pensioners in fountains and laughing about it over there!! No wonder we all rejoice when they lose.
Barca tonight City weekend and December’s worlds greatest team ends with nothing!
@Dougal67: biggest city fan on this site, good man Dougie
@themansam: Nope try again?
Care to comment on your “fans” ? No thought not…I’ll change subject instead????
@Dougal67: As long as they beat the manks, I’m happy.
@Dougal67: care to comment on your own fans?
@themansam: Why? Your fans r in the news every game yous play?? Still no comment good lad……..
@Dougal67: I have spoken out against this kind of idiotic behavior before Dougal, it’s a disgrace
You’ve been asked several times to comment on your fans behavior and haven’t
@Dougal67: pal, why don’t you stay in your lane. You don’t like Liverpool or Liverpool fans then don’t watch the matches or read and comment on the articles. You’re just being a pest.
@Dougal67: Jaysus, you went very quiet.
@Sean: he looks like one prize prat now. Which of course he is
Now lads .. keep it civil and lets all get behind Liverpool, for the win to take us through to the final.
@Logan Shepherd: you’re in the wrong place for that kind of carry on pal
@Logan Shepherd: The bridemades have already bottled it against Barça. Today is just a train day for them.
@Roy Dowling: Didn’t stay civil very long…
@Roy Dowling: If you say so. Should I switch to another team? Who would you recommend?
@Roy Dowling: good call mate. You know your stuff.
Anybody else see the videos claiming to be out side the Barcelona hotel last night with a car boot full of fireworks, letting them off so as to keep the players awake all night,,, if it’s true, it’s disgraceful behaviour by so called football fans,, really pathetic….
@Devilsavocado: awh sorry bro let’s go to a library and watch football xx
I mean the match was kicking off 16 hours later. I’m sure they caught up on the sleep.
@Devilsavocado: suck it up princess. Dont cry incase your mascara gets smudged.
@Ollie Watson: so you think it’s ok for fans to disrupt away teams preparing for a game, a very important one at that,, maybe you are right sure fans can be trusted to make sure this could never get out of hand,, still don’t know if it’s true, as it hasn’t be reported, but if it is true then I hope Barca stuff them, might stop other idiots from going to hotels to set off fire alarms or let fireworks off all night long…
@Devilsavocado: you’re not really playing devils avocado now are you?
@themansam: that’s exactly what I’m doing Sam….
@Devilsavocado: Hilton statement says that nobody’s sleep was disturbed, so the fools were out late for nothing.
@Logan Shepherd: glad to here it, that’s something that could snowball into different more extreme types of disruption that other fans could attempt if they think it could give there team a tiny advantage….
@Devilsavocado: “still don’t know if it’s true”
@Devilsavocado: This craic of trying to keep teams from sleeping actually happens quiet a bit.
@themansam: BBC reporting it and the fact the Hilton made a statement would suggest it is.
@Devilsavocado: Dry your eyes will ya. Wont happen to Utd in Armenia cause they cant afford fireworks. Enjoy.
As a united supporter I have to hand it to Liverpool. That was a magical comeback. Roy if the rovers stuff. Enjoy it
As a united fan I must hand it to Liverpool what a comeback to level the tie so far absolutely brilliant and play unreal football. Before the game, gave them a slight chance to come back but thought 3-0 was too much, all to play for now Barca on the ropes
Idk I’m not a Liverpool fan but I can see Liverpool coming back
@Hirving Lozano: If you say it 3 times it might happen
@CrabaRev: or 5 times
@Hirving Lozano: Candyman, Candyman, Candyman…
Liverpool fans booing Suarez for doing exactly what he use to do when he played for liverpool. Liverpool playing well tho
Is George Hamilton a Liverpool fan, like for yes comment for double yes
@Ave it: rte biased beyond belief, Brady even said City are ARGUABLY better than Barca. They just need England shirts
Congratulations Liverpool
Come on you Reds
I’m sure this will be a great game but I can’t see Barcelona not scoring which leaves Liverpool to score 5
@Scorpionvenomm: work that one out for me? 5?
@themansam: id say he means if barca score Liverpool will need 5 to go through due to away goal rule…
@themansam: pretty simple Barca score once and Liverpool need 5 goals due to away goals. I can’t see barca not scoring to be fair and I’m a pool fan. Best we can hope for is 3 with no response for extra time. And that is a stretch
@Scorpionvenomm: wrong again!!
The antics by Barcelona is shocking.. surround the ref every foul. Barely any have been fouls too
@El_Monikerinho: I’ve not seen one English team to surround the referee like Spanish or Italian teams. I’m on about the antics in general
Great start
ITS 3-0!!!!!!! COME ON YOU REDS!!!!! YNWA!!!!
As a neutral good luck to the pool , hope Suarez alba busqets Vidal get a few ankle taps and fair shoulders
Is George Hamilton a liverpool fan, like for yes comment for double yes
Again a pure neutral here ,Leeds fan , but heard stories about fireworks outside there hotel serves them right for there antics for selling tickets to away clubs ,, I think there bit of a di*k club , so many bad sportsmanship stories through the years stories but no smoke without fire through the years ,, transfer bans,referees in there pockets/fixed matches-penalties given/red cards/off sides more than any one. 2009 especially v Chelsea and bayern ,the Persie sending off 2011,2010 turning sprinklers on against inter now that was petty, there constant influencing of the referee through the whole of a match diving I have seen Barcelona and Madrid play on numerous occasions and found Barcelona to be worse , I do think messi is pure class , hope Ajax/spurs if not Liverpool get one over
Let’s do it the Liverpool way …
Come on you beauties ..
Honestly don’t know how this ref keeps getting games he’s shocking. Sent off Nani for s high foot before. And screwed Ireland over a few times. That was a great tackle by fabinho
@Yorkie1892: he’s actually done alright,Fabinho yellow was well deserved,ref has been very lenient so far,Liverpool players are reacting to Suarez every time which will cost them
@John Connolly: he won the ball… Reacting to Suarez as he’s play acting
@Yorkie1892: in fairness he didn’t get the ball,was a deserved yellow card
@John Connolly: football is finished if you think that’s a yellow man!
@Yorkie1892: he didn’t get the ball,it was a clear yellow,if Suarez did the same thing you’d be screaming for a card
@John Connolly: there is not much difference between the fouls on Mane and Suarez except the racist ref will only give Suarez a decision. a Liverpool player needs to go through Suarez around the halfway line. Preferably Origi before he goes off for Brewster. klopp needs to tighten up the right side or it feels inevitable that is where the goal will come from.
@Freddie Rincon: racist eh? have a drink for yourself
@John Connolly: if you seen the replay there it clearly shows fabinho winning the ball.. it goes back down the pitch like
@Yorkie1892: don’t matter pal. I’d take that yellow too. YNWA
And this is why I love football, even if Liverpool end the season with no silverware…. What a f**kin ride its been
@Mel Fitzpatrick: absolutely Mel, a rollercoaster
Liverpool’s biggest problem is their small squad. The were very lucky to get this far into the season with very few injuries to their better players. Missing Firmino and Salah makes their task as close to impossible as makes no difference.
They will struggle against Wolves next week after this also.
@CrabaRev: they’re in a great position to get 1 or 2 world class players – players with ambition and see the momentum.
@Peter McGlynn: I have to say this had been one of the finest Liverpool displays I have seen since the early 1980s. I am not a Liverpool fan btw.
@CrabaRev: I.D.I.O.T.
@CrabaRev: I-D-I-O-T
@CrabaRev: ID-I-OT
Liverpool is a great little club
@Adrianh_80: who do u follow lad
@Declan g: Manchester United & Mayo GAA
@themansam: ye have a small chance
@Adrianh_80: better than Mayo anyway me auld pal
@Adrianh_80: Mayo a great little county. How many All Ireland’s have Mayo played in since 1951 and not won. Did you enjoy your point against Huddersfield, the team relegated in March?
@Adrianh_80: Yup, great club.
@Adrianh_80: they only needed the small chance pal. That’s the difference between European Cup greats and not so greats
@Adrianh_80: id say da pewel comparison fairer especially in finals. Radio phone ins hilarious, number 6, win the double etc etc. TRY some humility.
@El_Monikerinho: try some intelligence
Fair play to Liverpool
Come on Barcelona acore and shut those two commentators up. A real pain to listen to.
@Michael McCormack: Turn it off then.
@Michael McCormack: awful to listen too, switch over to bt sports innocents
Tumbleweeds……
Sure your meant to support your own players. Is that not what fans do you wally?
@Vinny: never was a suporter of liverpool you wally.
@Michael McCormack: i didnt mean you …..wally
Bottlers my bukken ARSE YNWA
I told you last week MESSI is not the GOAT. When the pressure is on, he goes missing unlike Maradona
No one commenting. Can’t take eyes off it.
Rats got by without a scratch on their bus. All for non scouse supporters as I’m one myself but if yer lucky enough to go make use of it instead of buying a half half scarf and taking videos and pics for insta ffs
@Ollie Watson: go lie down somewhere dark where the voices won’t find you
Should be Barca ahead or at worst level, have played the better football, bit of fortune about da pewel goal.
@El_Monikerinho: still counts as a goal last I checked buddy
@El_Monikerinho:Same fortune as Messi’s first goal last week.
@El_Monikerinho: simpleton
@themansam: brilliant result, fair play to you, you stood tall YNWA
@El_Monikerinho: have won what so far?
@El_Monikerinho: clown
@El_Monikerinho: ha ha you must be sick
@Michael Sage: unreal effort from that team
Holy god Barca. What are they like?
I’m chopping onions.
#YNWA.
That’s one for all the haters!!! Up yers!
Shaquiri touch is terrible.
Dembele da waster
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Ajax must fancy themselves more now.
@El_Monikerinho: Die Numpty
@El_Monikerinho: suck it, sour grapes.
@El_Monikerinho: you may well have that come end of the season. Still a fair chance you win nought.
@El_Monikerinho: ha ha tighten your noose
Do away goals count in extra time?
@Michael Hoban: yes
Barca did a Ronnie O’ Sullivan v the amateur.
Can’t say I’m overly surprised. 10-1 odds to qualify was wrong though. Barca like PSG . BOTTLERS
Barca spooked by where they were. Created chances. Hit the self destruct button. Goals were hardly magical from a football point of view but all bout putting the ball in the net. Lazyish from Barca. Energitic from the scousers. Too be expected,
Greatest club in the world my arse… what a shambles of a goal.
@seancreaven13: salty, btw your swing is awful
Maybe La Liga is rubbish! One swan and a Summer though!
Come on Barcelona last min goal will do
@Michael McCormack: suck it.
Ajax praying for a barca goal
Gifted it. Ajax for 5.
@El_Monikerinho: we are all over at the post match report……come on over and congratulate “de pewel” as you put it on an phenomenal amazing performance.