Two second half goals from an inspired Leo Messi gave Barça a deserved victory against an unambitious Sevilla. The game marked the 50th anniversary of Camp Nou and before the game there were the typical celebrations which football tends to do so badly: ex-players introduced, giant footballs floating about, an orchestra to play the Barça hymn, drummers, fireworks and a light show.

When the real action began Barça were soon on top. After just 80 seconds Messi passed to Iniesta who beat a defender, got to the by-line and crossed to Henry who tried to flick it in but a defender managed to divert the ball for a corner. After five minutes Messi shot wide after cutting in from the right, and five minutes later the Sevilla defence made a hash of a Henry cross from the left and Iniesta got in a shot that was blocked for a corner.

Sevilla had their first and only chance of the first half after 21 minutes when Renato headed a cross from the left against the outside of the post. Barça were dominating but were not creating many chances. Abidal had a fine shot saved by Palop, and before half time both Toure and Deco had efforts go close.

The second half began with Henry missing two chances, both times he failed to make full contact with headers. Barça kept pushing forward and Sevilla seemed content to play for the goalless draw. Marquez hit the post with a header from a corner on the hour, then Rijkaard decided to bring on Giovani in place of Xavi.

Henry came close after 71 minutes when a great long ball from Marquez put him through for a one-on-one with Palop. The keeper got a hand to Henry’s shot and the ball rolled agonizingly towards the goal only to finally come back off the post.

It looked like being another frustrating night for Henry, but two minutes later he found Messi when everyone expected a shot, and the Argentinian controlled superbly to hook a left foot shot into the back of the net. Finally Sevilla had to come out in search of an equalizer, and with more space to exploit we started to see some flashes of the real Henry. A great counter attack saw Henry find Giovani but his cross did not quite reach Messi and the defence cleared for a corner. From the corner Marquez flicked on at the near post and Poulsen fouled the lurking Giovani and the ref blew for a penalty. Messi stepped up and coolly sent Palop the wrong way.

Soon after, Messi almost got his hat-trick after good work from Henry and Giovani but this time Palop was equal to the shot. Barça were heading for a comfortable win until two minutes into injury time Kanoute beat the offside trap, held off Oleguer’s challenge to beat Valdés who hadn’t had to make a save in the whole game. This set up a nervous last minute as Sevilla threw everything forward, but it was too little too late and Sevilla really deserved no more than they got.

This was a good patient performance from Barça, the defence looked solid though they were not tested much. Iniesta looked great in the first half playing wide on the left where he gave Dani Alves a torrid time. And maestro Messi was once again very impressive. Sevilla were never in the game, and frankly I’m not sure which was worse, their performance or their disgusting pink kit.

FC Barcelona: Valdés 6; Zambrotta 6, Márquez 7, Milito 7, Abidal 7; Xavi 5.5 (Giovani, m60, 6.5), Touré 7 (Oleguer, m87, –), Deco 6, Iniesta 7.5, Messi 8 (Bojan , m88, –), Henry 6.

Sevilla: Palop, Alves (Martí, m81), Boulahrouz, Escude, Dragutinovic; Navas (Kerzhakov, m77), Keita, Poulsen, Adriano (Duda, m45), Renato, Kanoute.

Goals: Messi m73, 1-0. Messi (pen) m80, 2-0. Kanoute m92, 2-1.

Yellow cards: Zambrotta, Keita, Dragutinovic, Poulsen, Toure, Kanoute, Deco.

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