Sevilla vs. Barcelona: Score and Reaction from 2016 La Liga Match

Barcelona beat Sevilla 2-1 on Sunday in a highly entertaining and close 2016-17 La Liga contest.

Sevilla were the better team in the first half and took an early lead through Vitolo, but Lionel Messi tied things up shortly before half-time. The Catalans improved after the break and took the advantage through Luis Suarez, holding on to the lead until the final whistle.

As the Catalans' official Twitter account shared, manager Luis Enrique gambled by keeping in-form Rafinha on the bench and starting Denis Suarez:

Sevilla entered the contest in excellent form and with plenty of momentum, and it didn't take long for the hosts to flash their talent. Luciano Vietto put Marc-Andre ter Stegen to work with a low shot following a great combination from the Andalusians.

Sergio Rico had to intervene shortly after, as a perfect counter involving Messi, Suarez and Neymar ended in a low strike the stopper only just managed to keep out.

The ball kept moving at a rapid pace, and Sergio Escudero came close to opening the score with a spectacular volley that narrowly flew wide.

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Vitolo and Javier Mascherano clashed, leaving the latter in visible pain after a nasty challenge. Neymar returned the favour with a bad tackle on Franco Vazquez, earning the first booking.

Sevilla were the better team in the opening stages, and it yielded a goal after 15 minutes. Neymar and Suarez lost the ball, and the hosts ran a quick counter through Pablo Sarabia, who teed up Vitolo for the easy finish.

La Liga expert Sergi Dominguez thought it wouldn't be Sevilla's last goal:

The Catalans immediately tried to respond, but Sevilla easily stood firm and did some damage on the counter. Mascherano cleared a ball ahead of Vitolo, and Vazquez proved a nuisance out wide.

Sarabia and Samuel Umtiti were the next two players to clash, with the former catching the latter with a late challenge. Somehow, the Sevilla man did not see a booking for the incident. Adil Rami wasn't as lucky, however, as he was booked for a foul on Neymar.

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Nasty fouls and physical play dominated proceedings, but the better chances kept falling to Sevilla on the counter. Vitolo nearly picked out Vietto with a clever chip, but Ter Stegen read the danger well and came off his line in a hurry.

Steven N'Zonzi and Sarabia combined to present Vietto with another opportunity, but the on-loan forward couldn't work the ball past Ter Stegen. Mascherano made an excellent block on Sarabia, and Neymar fired a shot wide.

Yahoo Sport UK's Andrew Gaffney loved the action on the pitch:

He wasn't impressed with Sergio Busquets, however, as the Spain international endured a miserable first half:

Vitolo fired another chance wide before Barcelona equalised out of nowhere and completely against the run of play. The Blaugrana executed a perfect counter, with Neymar using his speed to tear the defence apart and Messi producing a fine finish.

Football writer Sid Lowe was hardly surprised:

Sergi Roberto earned himself a booking before the official brought an end to an incredibly entertaining half. Lowe didn't like that:

Sevilla came out firing to start the second half, but the Blaugrana also went looking for a goal. The action was once again fast and furious. Samir Nasri fired a shot straight at Ter Stegen, and Ivan Rakitic could only aim his effort at Rico.

Rami managed to block a shot from Messi that seemed destined for the back of the net, and the Argentinian went close just minutes later, with Rico pushing the ball out for a corner.

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Barcelona started to take the upper hand, and a second Catalan goal seemed likely. It was Messi who teed up Suarez after 61 minutes, and the Uruguayan didn't miss.

Per Lowe, Suarez had his team-mate to thank for the goal:

Sevilla then took control of the ball again but didn't find as much space as they did in the first half. Suarez nearly bagged a second goal, rounding Rico before firing wide. N'Zonzi came agonisingly close to an equaliser, beating Ter Stegen in the air but putting his header wide.

Rico then made another spectacular save to deny Suarez, and Umtiti fired a shot well wide after a swift counter. Messi was booked for time-wasting in the middle of Sevilla's final push, and Suarez also ran into a card after complaining to the official.

The official granted just three minutes of injury time, to the fury of the home fans, and Mascherano joined his booked team-mates after booting the ball out of play ahead of a free-kick. Sevilla couldn't find an opening, and Barcelona hung on to their lead.

Per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan, Suarez admitted after the match he took his yellow card on purpose, making sure to avoid a possible suspension against Real Sociedad or Real Madrid:

Barcelona's next match will be against Malaga after the international break, while Sevilla will visit Deportivo La Coruna.