FC Barcelona were forced to concede two points in the race for the La Liga title as they surrendered a 2-0 lead away to Sevilla to draw 2-2.

Leo Messi and Neymar had given Barca the lead, but a magnificent fightback from Sevilla saw the points shared, while extending Sevilla's unbeaten home record to an impressive 32 matches.

Barca fielded probably their strongest side in a ground where they had not lost since 2007, but where Sevilla were unbeaten this season.

The result was a barnstorming first 45 minutes with both teams playing their trademark football: Barca looking to move the ball at pace, while Sevilla were well organized and aiming to play on the break.

Barca started the stronger of the two sides and got their reward after 15 minutes when Leo Messi produced the sort of goal only he is able to score on a regular basis. He received the ball on the right of the Sevilla penalty area and curled home a delicate left foot shot through the smallest of spaces to end in the back of the net.

It looked as if Barca had set out to show they were not intimidated by Real Madrid's win over Eibar earlier in the day and Neymar scored a free kick, which went in after brushing the post just after the half hour.

However, if there is one thing Unai Emery has imposed on his Sevilla side it is personality and they showed that in the last 15 minutes before the break, pushing Barca back into their half and gaining their reward when Ever Banega smashed in a 30-yard shot which Claudio Bravo could have done more to keep out.

The second half started with Sergio Rico denying Andres Iniesta, who was clean through on goal, but Luis Suarez should have done better than sidefoot the rebound over the crossbar with the keeper stranded.

That was the sign for Sevilla to impose their play on the game and their pressure high in the Barcelona half saw the visitors commit a series of mistakes which Sevilla looked to exploit from a series of set pieces.

Barca brought on Xavi Hernandez to try and impose more control in midfield, but a slack pass from Pique with just eight minutes left allowed Jose Antonio Reyes to make an important interception and feel Alex Vidal, whose low cross was swept past Bravo by a delighted Kevin Gameiro, who had replaced Bacca to delight the home fans.