Sevilla's four-game winning run in LaLiga came to an end at Camp Nou, where Barcelona won 4-2 despite Lionel Messi's first-half arm injury.
2018/2019 La Liga
4-2
Match Events
2'GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Sevilla (Coutinho)
Goal! Barcelona 1, Sevilla 0. The home side take the lead in emphatic fashion. They break down the right through Semedo, who finds Messi in the box. He turns to play in Coutinho in the box. The Brazilian fires the ball first time into the top corner, leaving Vaclik with no chance. What a start for Barca.
12'GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Sevilla (Messi)
Goal! Barcelona 2, Sevilla 0. The home side extend their advantage as Suarez picks out Messi down the right flank. Messi creates room to open up his body to curl a left-footed strike towards goal. He hits his effort with enough power and bend to beat Vaclik and find the back of the net.
22' Messi forced off with arm injury
Messi has been forced for with an arm injury, he was substituted in the 17th minute after appearing land awkwardly on his right arm during a tussle for the ball with Sevilla midfielder Franco Vazquez. After receiving lengthy treatment on the sideline, during which Messi appeared in pain, he was replaced by Ousmane Dembele.
63'Penalty Goal! Barcelona 3-0 Sevilla (Suarez)
Goal! Barcelona 3, Sevilla 0. Suarez is onto the through-ball by Coutinho and he gets to it before Vaclik before he is brought down as he tries to round the 'keeper. The referee points to the spot and Vaclik receives a yellow card.
The forward holds his nerve from 12 yards to all but secure the win for the home side. He fires his effort into the bottom corner, sending Vaclik the wrong way.
79'GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Sevilla (Sarabia)
Goal! Barcelona 3, Sevilla 1. Sarabia scores an absolute beauty from the edge of the box. Banega slides a pass to the forward and he pulls the ball back on his left foot. He fires his effort with power and swerve into the top corner with the aid of a slight deflection, leaving Ter Stegen with no chance.
88'GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Sevilla (Rakitic)
Goal! Barcelona 4, Sevilla 1. Raktic scores a beauty on the half-volley to secure the win for the home side.
90'GOAL! Barcelona 4-2 Sevilla (Muriel)
Sevilla get a consolation goal as Muriel converts late in the game after latching onto Ben Yedder's offload.
Match Report
Lionel Messi was substituted with an arm injury that makes him a doubt for next weekend's Clasico but the Barcelona captain inspired a 4-2 home win against Sevilla to send his side top of LaLiga.
Philippe Coutinho scored from Messi's pass in the second minute to get Barca off to a flying start at Camp Nou on Saturday and the Argentina superstar soon doubled the lead.
But Messi had to be substituted having hurt his right arm in an awkward fall and he could miss Wednesday's Champions League game against Inter, as well as next Sunday's showdown with rivals Real Madrid.
Luis Suarez's second-half penalty and a late strike from Ivan Rakitic secured the points despite consolations from Pablo Sarabia and Luis Muriel, Ernesto Valverde's men moving into first place in the table, with Sevilla third after their four-game winning streak ended.
Line-ups
Barcelona XI: L. Messi, L. Suárez, Piqué, I. Rakitić, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, M. ter Stegen, Lenglet, Semedo, Arthur
Subs: Vidal, S.Roberto, Jasper Cillessen, Rafinha, Munir, O. Dembélé, Chumi Brandariz
Sevilla XI: J.Navas, S. Kjær, É. Banega, Carriço, T. Vaclík, F.Vázquez, Sarabia, S.Gómez, Ben Yedder, André Silva, Guilherme Arana
Subs: G. Mercado, Nolito, L. Muriel, A.Vidal, Quincy Promes, Mesa, Juan Soriano