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Lionel Messi stole the show as Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga.
Lionel Messi scored his 50th career hat trick. Barcelona came twice from behind to beat Sevilla 4-2 at Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.
Jesus Navas quickly gave Sevilla advance, but Messi leveled the situation with a superb volley. The hosts took the advantage before the break by Gabriel Mercado before Barca, led by Messi, improves in the second half.
The Argentine buckled the pbad to Ousmane Dembele with his right foot to equalize for the second time. He then stole the three points late in the game with a cheeky end of the game at close range, before putting Luis Suarez in fourth place in Barca in stoppage time.
Good points
Messi started slowly as doubts persisted about his fitness after a recent thigh injury. But, after giving the ball for the first goal of Sevilla, he dispelled these doubts with a winning performance. It was his 50th career treble and he has now scored 25 league goals this season. It looks like he's regained his form just in time for this week's double-header against Real Madrid.
Coach Ernesto Valverde also deserves credits for his proactive changes at half-time, while Ivan Rakitic and substitutes for Dembele and Carles Alena also had a positive impact on the match.
It will be very difficult for Barca to throw the league away from here. They have played a game more for now, but they have 10 points ahead of Atletico Madrid, their closest rival, with 13 games to play.
The negatives
Barca 's performance in the first half was far from what is expected of them. In this sense, it was a continuation of their recent hot and cold season: four draws and a win in their last five games before Saturday's win in Seville.
The defense was particularly dull for both goals. They have improved in the back since December, but it was a resurgence of their leaks earlier in the season.
Rating of the manager out of 10
7 – Valverde switched the match on his team with substitutes at half-time and the formation went to 4-2-3-1.
Player's Notes (1-10; 10 = Best Players Introduced After 70 Minutes Receive No Notes)
GK Marc-André ter Stegen, 6 years old – Sevilla's second goal was weak, but he could do nothing to stop the Navas or Mercado strikes.
DF Nelson Semedo, 6 – Did not do much harm, but was removed to the break by Barca in pursuit of the match.
DF Gerard Pique, 6 – Wissam Ben Yedder struggled in the first half and was properly booked. Showed his experience to offer a better performance in the second half.
DF Samuel Umtiti, 6 years old – He sometimes had problems returning from a knee injury when he made his first appearance since November. However was not at fault for either goal, and should benefit enormously from the arrival of 90 minutes.
DF Jordi Alba, 6 years old – This is not his best performance of his season perhaps the best since moving to Camp Nou. Both goals of Seville came from his side – even though he was not directly responsible for one or the other occasion.
MF Sergio Busquets, 6 – Slack for Sevilla 's second goal, but seemed more comfortable in the second half with the change of formation.
MF Arturo Vidal, 5 – Like Semedo, sacrificed at half-time. Eliminate a lot of dangerous attacks in Sevilla, but Valverde will want it to be more accurate in the last third.
MF Ivan Rakitic, 8 years old – Set the goal of Messi with a nice center in the first period but makes his best football after the break. Valverde moved to a 4-2-3-1 formation and the Croatians were built to play a role in this two midfield. Has also been involved in the second goal.
FW Lionel Messi, 10 – Turned it on after a recent dip in the form. Partly to blame for the first goal, but completely responsible for the victory of Barca. Scored three very good goals and set up the fourth.
FW Luis Suarez, 6 – A better performance than his last two, ending his five-goal drought with a nice lob in stoppage time.
FW Philippe Coutinho, 5 years old – It was not offered enough once again before being removed in the second period. This has been the same story too often in recent months. On the basis of this evidence, it is unlikely that he will play Wednesday against Real Madrid in the Cup.
replacements
FW Ousmane Dembele, 7 – He missed a good opportunity but added the spark Barca was missing as a substitute at halftime. Set up the second messi and cause problems with his rhythm.
DF Sergi Roberto, 6 – Entered for the second semester and was part of an improvement in Barcelona's performance.
MF Carles Alena, NR – Only appeared for the last 10 minutes, but had an impact. It was his blocked shot that led to Messi's third goal.
Source: espn.co.uk
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