Seth Gogo Egoeh: If Vitolo was as half as clinical as Messi was in that first half, Sevilla would have been leading by at least two goals.

Sublime stuff from Luis Suarez, reaching a long pass into the Sevilla penalty area with a backheeled volley towards Lionel Messi - who shoots for the top corner. Sergio Rico, in the home goal, is well positioned and flips the ball over for a corner, which is cleared.

Luis Suarez to Lionel Messi, as Barcelona try to beat Sevilla at their own game with a swift counter-attack. Neymar, just to his left, rather gets in the Argentine's way, and Adil Rami, the home centre-back, gets across to block the shot.

We've had another booking in the meantime, with Sevilla right-back Mariano cautioned for a foul. 

Image source, EPA

Barcelona respond immediately. Neymar's ball across from the left rolls towards Ivan Rakitic, who pops at goal from the edge of the area. Sergio Rico, the Sevilla keeper, dives to his right to beat the shot away. More goals in this game? At the moment, the answer would appear to be: Yes.

Second half begins at the same pace as the first. Samir Nasri bursts down the left, exchanges passes with Luciano Vietto - who produces a lovely backheel return - and shoots at goal, but straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Two interesting things about that Lionel Messi equaliser. 

1) Ivan Rakitic is standing in an offside position as Lionel Messi strikes from the edge of the penalty area. Is he interfering with play? He seems to be OK as he makes no move towards the ball or to distract the goalkeeper.

2) No Sevilla player, as far as I could see, protested as the ball went in.

We're back under way.

Lionel Messi, by the way, has now scored 27 times in 29 appearances against Sevilla. To quote Britney Spears: Oops, I did it again.

I don't think Britney's very impressed with that text entry.

Image source, Reuters

Barcelona are fortunate to be level. Sevilla have been the better team.

There's still time in what remains of a breathless first half for Barcelona's overworked right-back Sergi Roberto to collect the evening's third caution for dragging back Vitolo by the shirt.

Barcelona enjoying a little more possession now. Sevilla are content to sit back and let them have the ball for now. Can Messi and his colleagues do any damage before half-time?

Gareth Williams: Barca playing like they're Half The World Away but usually a Bittersweet Symphony before producing a Champagne Supernova moment!  

A strange incident during a Sevilla attack as Sergio Escudero chips in from the left, finding Pablo Sarabia unmarked by the penalty spot as Barca left-back Lucas Digne waves in vain for offside. Sarabia, rather than doing anything as conventional as controlling the ball and shooting, backheels a volley out towards the edge of the penalty area. Nothing more transpires from the attack.

Moments later, Luciano Vietto makes a good run across Javier Mascherano to reach Sarabia's low diagnoal pass into him, then turns into space and skims a shot across goal. Barca are rattled.

Image source, Getty Images

The foul count rises steadily. Where there was flowing football in the early stages, now there is conflict. Franco Vazquez catches Denis Suarez with a trailing fist - seemingly accidentally - before Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano respond with a couple of crunching challenges of their own. You wouldn't want to be a hedgehog trying to cross the pitch right now.

Neymar, in full flow for Barcelona, has his progress stopped in classic agricultural manner by Sevilla centre-back Adil Rami, who gets a flash of yellow as punishment.

Image source, AP

Andy White: Sevilla's goal a classic example of a 'Breakaway' as I am sure Kelly Clarkson would agree.

Image source, EPA

Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti is fuming after getting a crack on the shin from Pablo Sarabia. Then Denis Suarez is sent to the turf by Samir Nasri. Sevilla are certainly letting their opponents know they're around.

What's impressive about Sevilla is that they get players back quickly when they need to defend. Denis Suarez tries to fashion a Barcelona shot on the edge of the penalty area, but is crowded out. Luis Enrique, on the touchline, is a picture of frustration, clapping his hands and yelling, his brow furrowed.

Barcelona's defence, as John McEnerney pointed out a few moments ago, is not at its strongest tonight, with Gerard Pique, Jeremy Mathieu and Jordi Alba missing. Sevilla are really playing on that. Mascherano, Umtiti and co look ill-equipped to cope with the pace that Jorge Sampaoli's side have on the break.