BARCELONA // As the rain came down in the first half at Camp Nou, fans avoided getting wet by moving back to find cover under the upper tiers in the three-quarters open stadium.
There was no such escape for Sevilla’s players as they were torn apart by a Barcelona side so formidable that they looked capable of beating anybody.
Their 6-1 victory against Paris Saint-Germain last month in the Uefa Champions League was a life affirming moment for most Barca fans, yet there were prolonged patches during that game when the home side were less than spectacular.
Against Sevilla, a side strong enough to win the last three Europa League competitions and be third in the Primera Liga for most of this season, there was almost no let up a in phenomenal first half.
Barca have nine games to play in April and if they are going to win the league and get the better of title rivals Real Madrid, they need to be in top form when the sides meet at the Bernabeu on April 23.
They certainly showed they are capable of that form as they swept aside Sevilla 3-0.
A Barca victory had been expected. Sevilla have enjoyed the best decade in their history, but they have found success against Barca harder to come by with just one win in their last 18 games, with 14 of those matches ending in defeat.
The emphatic nature of the victory was more of a surprise, though Jorge Sampaoli’s side have clearly lost their mojo. Without a win in five and eliminated from the Uefa Champions League by Leicester City, the Andalusians were on the back foot from the start as Barca frenetically pressed high in a manner with which Sevilla’s coach Jorge Sampaoli would approve.
The Argentine is among the favourites to take over when Luis Enrique steps down at the end of this season, but his players were stunned as Lionel Messi hit the bar with a curling shot from 25 yards after four minutes.
Barca can still look vulnerable in defence and they had their wobbles, but their superiority became tangible after 25 minutes.
Messi, picking up a ball won by Ivan Rakitic on the half way line, ran down a right channel, avoiding the attention of three opponents, to cross for Luis Suarez, who finished with a spectacular overhead kick.
The Uruguayan was involved in the second three minutes later with a goal which was not as spectacular in the finish but was stunning in its creation.
Rakitic, who had headed narrowly wide after 18 minutes, again started the move, threading a pass forward to Neymar, who went past Gabriel Mercado and then rolled the ball in front of Sevilla’s goal to Suarez, who slid it back to Messi.
It was a bewildering, and for Sevilla a debilitating move, which was finished by Messi side-footing past Sergio Rico.
Barca were three up after 33 minutes when Nico Pareja’s clearance only made it as far as the boot of Messi, who volleyed the ball through a crowded box.
The rain, and Barca, eased off in the second half, substituting Suarez, Gerard Pique and Rakitic to deserved applause as they consolidated their spoils ahead of a weekend at Malaga and two Champions League encounters with Juventus.
Sevilla’s Vitolo was sent off in the 90th minute for a second booking to sum up their miserable night.
With 27 and 24 league goals respectively, Messi and Suarez are the top scorers in the Primera Liga, with Messi the top scorer in Europe too and Suarez boasting more assists than any player in Europe.
They will take some stopping on this form.
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