Barcelona lose Liga lead to Sevilla

LUCKY Catalans come from behind vs Valencia thanks to Messi goal but draw leaves Barca without a win in last 4 ties

Sevilla became surprise Liga leaders on Sunday after beating visiting Celta Viga 2-1 while champions Barcelona drew 1-1 at Valencia thanks to another Lionel Messi strike but are still without a victory in their last four league games.

Atletico Madrid joined Barca on 15 points after scraping a 1-0 win at home to Real Betis with a late strike from substitute Angel Correa to climb above Real Madrid into third in a highly competitive campaign with the top six separated by two points.

The Catalans fell behind in the second minute at a bouncing Mestalla stadium after dreadful defending from a corner allowed Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay to stab home from close range.

MISSING CHANCES

Barca continued to leak chances but got a foothold in the game thanks to a superb strike in the 23rd minute from Messi, who has been in inspired form recently and delivered a performance for the ages against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

They failed to further breach a superbly organised Valencia, however, racking up a run of Atletico Espanyol Sevilla Valencia Mallorca Deportivo Espanyol and Alaves.

Sevilla midfielder Pablo Sarabia headed them towards a fourth league win in a row shortly before halftime, their task made easier when Celta’s Mexican defender Nestor Araujo was sent off for two bookings in two minutes before the hour mark.

The hosts’ French striker Wissam Ben Yedder doubled the lead by nudging the ball home from close range in the 61st minute, although the goal had to be verified by the video assistant referee (VAR) before it was awarded.

Celta’s Sofiane Boufal scored with an impressive long-range strike in the 85th but it proved only a consolation for the mid-table visitors, who lost for the second time this term. “I would like the season to end right now,” said Sevilla coach Pablo Machin, sitting at the summit of La Liga for the first time in his career.

“We are being ruthless in front of goal and we are feeling confident. We know what we’re capable of and I will try to keep this run going.”

Atletico saw little of the ball against Betis but kept them at bay with shrewd defensive work and had far more chances, with Croatian forward Nikola Kalinic hitting the woodwork, although they struggled to score until Diego Simeone shuffled his pack.

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