‘Decisive’ Messi rescues unbeaten Barcelona

Star striker second goal in 2-2 draw against Sevilla

SEVILLE: Lionel Messi rescued Barcelona's unbeaten season on Saturday as the La Liga leaders scored twice in the last three minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw at Sevilla.

Messi came off the bench with his team two goals down at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as Luis Suarez pulled one back in the 88th minute, before the Argentinian struck the equaliser a minute later.

Barcelona had not lost a league game this term, or in 13 months, but finishes from Franco Vazquez and Luis Muriel looked to have sealed Sevilla a stunning victory.

But Messi came up trumps again and he celebrated his goal, a bending long-range strike into the bottom corner, by rushing to the jubilant coaching staff and substitutes on the touchline.

"If you have Messi and he does not play, it is clear that it has a lot of importance," coach Ernesto Valverde said. "He is a player that is decisive every time he touches the ball."

Barcelona have now gone 37 consecutive league games since losing to Malaga in April last year and stand one match away from equalling Real Sociedad's record set in 1980.

Messi had been left out of the starting line-up due to a hamstring complaint, with Valverde perhaps keeping one eye on Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final against Roma. Valverde expects him to be available at the Camp Nou.

"Today as a precaution he has not started, but we think that on Wednesday he may be available," Valverde said. "We will see how he reacts after today's effort. But we think it will be fine."

Earlier, Gareth Bale made a strong case for a starting spot against Juventus by scoring twice in Real Madrid's 3-0 victory over Las Palmas as Cristiano Ronaldo was rested.

Bale's double in Gran Canaria served as a timely reminder to coach Zinedine Zidane, with the trip to Turin for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals to come on Tuesday.

Karim Benzema had doubled Real's lead before half-time as Los Blancos moved just one point behind second-placed Atletico. Las Palmas stay 18th, seven points adrift of safety.