Messi reaches 500-goal mark

Barcelona's Lionel Messi complains to an official after being stripped of one of his boots during Sunday's 2-1 win at Sevilla. [Photo/Agencies]

The host had two shots on goal inside 50 seconds, but from a Sevilla corner Barca broke forward at lightning speed and Suarez's effort from Neymar's layoff was brilliantly saved by Sergio Rico.

Sevilla remained on the attack for most of the first half and got its reward in the 15th minute when Pablo Sarabia's pass confounded Sergi Roberto and Vitolo charged through to open the scoring.

Sarabia passed up a great chance to make it 2-0 when he took the bizarre decision to backheel the ball towards the edge of the area when he had just Marc-Andre ter Stegen to beat.

Barca made Sevilla pay with another brilliant counter attack to knot the score two minutes before halftime when Messi smartly curled Neymar's pass into the bottom corner.

The goal was Messi's 500th for Barca including friendlies, but he should have had more after the break as only a brilliant block from Mariano and a save by Rico prevented the Barca captain turning the game around.

Messi turned set-up man for the winner just after the hour mark when he teed up a perfect pass for Suarez to drill past Rico.

Rico produced an incredible stop to prevent Suarez making it 3-1, but a huge error by Ter Stegen at the other end nearly cost Barca the win as he flapped at a corner and Steven N'Zonzi headed inches wide of the gaping goal.