Barcelona went into Saturday’s La Liga fixture away to Sevilla aware that failure to win could spell an end to their title hopes. Lionel Messi made sure that was not the case as his side ran out 2-0 winners.
Victory over Sevilla is Barca’s best win since the autumn and confirms that they are getting back to some kind of competitive level.
Indeed, now they are only two points off the pace of Primera Division leaders Atletico Madrid, albeit having played two additional games.
Here’s how the Argentine magician performed.
Sevilla 0-1 Barcelona: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats
📷 Lionel Messi: Match Snapshot
A ⏱️ 48' There are 29 minutes on the clock when Messi unlocks the Sevilla defence with a stellar through pass. Ousmane Dembele latches onto the ball in the left side of the penalty box and drives a shot into the goal.
⚽ ⏱️ 85' Messi secures the win with five minutes remaining. Gathering the ball 30 yards out in the left channel, he surges forward, plays a one two. Charging into the box, he sidesteps a defender easily. His initial effort is saved but he bundles home the rebound.
〽️ Lionel Messi: Rating Week-on-Week
✔ IMPROVEMENT
Messi is on an incredible stretch of form, even by his own high standards. Indeed, so strong is his current level, his 9.3 FC Rating is not particularly unremarkable.
This was his 10th game over that period. Remarkably, he has scored seven matches with an 8 FC Rating or above.
🗝️ Key Stats
Messi match stats
| Statistic | Value | Notes |
| FC Rating | 9.3 | Man of the Match |
| Mins Played | 90 | |
| Goals | 1 | |
| Assists | 1 | |
| Shots | 4 | |
| Shots on target | 3 | |
| Final third passes | 24 | Rank #1 |
| Pass completion | 92% | |
| Completed dribbles | 5 | Rank #1 |
Messi: What Next?
This might be Barcelona’s best win in months, but there is much work ahead if they want to win silverware.
Messi and his Barca side face Sevilla again in midweek as they attempt to turn around a 2-0 deficit in the Copa del Rey, then a week later they need a miracle if they are to overcome PSG in the Champions League if they are to go through to the quarter-finals given they lost the first leg 4-1.
In between times, they visit Osasuna in La Liga.
Sevilla 0-1 Barcelona: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats
Lionel Messi 
Barcelona 
Atletico Madrid 
Real Madrid 
Sevilla 
