Date: March 24–27, 2005Competition: La Liga – Matchday 23Fixture: Sevilla FC vs. FC BarcelonaVenue: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán StadiumKickoff: March 27, 2005 – 8:30 PMLeague Stakes: 1st vs. 3rd — six-point matchLa Liga Standings Before Kickoff:
1st: FC Barcelona – 63 pts
2nd: Real Madrid – 60 pts
3rd: Sevilla – 59 pts
March 24 – Jet Lag and Focus
Messi's return flight from Argentina landed in the early hours.
Rijkaard allowed him a light session but expected him in the full team tactical drill that evening.
"They're pressing high. Physical midfield. We play around them, not through them," Rijkaard told the squad.
In the evening, Messi stayed after to work on free kicks and timing his runs.
He was tired. But he wanted the Sevilla match.
He wanted to prove that Argentina and Barcelona could both call him theirs.
March 25 – Pep Talk from Ronaldinho
In the locker room, Ronaldinho handed Messi a folded newspaper clipping. It was an article from La Nación (Argentina).
"Lionel Messi: The European who became Argentina's hope."
"They expect things now," Ronaldinho said, smiling."Don't be afraid of that. Just play. Let them expect."
Messi nodded, slipping the article into his bag.
He thought of Anto's letter. Of Pékerman's eyes.
He wanted to give them more to believe in.
March 27 – Match Night: Sevilla vs. Barcelona
The Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán was a wall of red and white. The chants were thunder.
Sevilla had only lost once at home this season.
Barcelona needed to win to maintain their lead over Madrid.
Kickoff – First Half
Minute 1–15
Sevilla pressed like wolves.Messi couldn't breathe on the ball without feeling a boot or a shoulder.
But he adapted — quickly.
He dropped deeper. Made quick, sharp triangles with Deco and Xavi.
Minute 12He beat two defenders on the right, drew another in, and slipped Eto'o in behind. Shot just wide.
Minute 20–35: The Shift
Messi began drifting to the center.
In Minute 23, he received a ball at the edge of the box, dragged it left, then curled a low pass behind the defenders for Giuly.
Goal. 1–0. Assist: Messi.
Sevilla fired back immediately. A long ball. A header. Kanouté turned and shot.
Goal. 1–1. Minute 27.
Now it was war.
Minute 37 – The Blow
Barcelona moved up the pitch. Iniesta fed Messi in the right half-space.
He darted between two defenders, ghosted past a third, and fired a left-footed shot across goal.
Goal. 2–1. Lionel Messi. Minute 37.
He ran to the sideline, kissed his wrist, and pointed to the sky. For Rosario. For Anto.
The Sevilla fans booed, but the Barça bench stood up in applause.
Halftime: Sevilla 1–2 BarcelonaSecond Half – Tension Rises
Minute 50–65
Sevilla threw bodies forward. Valdés saved twice. Marquez cleared off the line.
Messi helped defensively, tracking back, pressing.
Minute 68 — Barça countered. Deco to Messi. Messi to Ronaldinho. Dinho chipped it into the path of Giuly—
Goal. 3–1.
Messi didn't touch the ball, but his run had dragged two defenders away.
Minute 82 – Close Call
Sevilla pulled one back.
Saviola (on loan from Barcelona) scored against his parent club.
3–2. Minute 82.
Now it was survival mode.
Rijkaard brought on Van Bommel to tighten the midfield.
Messi still tried to push forward, but he played smarter — conserving energy, killing time, earning fouls.
Full-Time: Sevilla 2–3 Barcelona
Goals: Giuly (23', 68'), Messi (37'); Kanouté (27'), Saviola (82')Assists: Messi (1), Iniesta (1), Ronaldinho (1)Man of the Match: Messi — 1 goal, 1 assist, 6 key passes, 4 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 3 recoveries
Post-Match Interview
Spanish TV Reporter:
"Leo, you've just returned from international training, and now you've helped win one of the toughest away games. Are you exhausted?"
Messi:
"I'm… tired. But happy. These are the nights I dreamed about."
Reporter:
"And the dream continues?"
Messi:
"Yes. But now the dream is a responsibility."
Notebook Entry – March 27, 2005
Anto,They say this match might've saved the title.But I don't think of points or trophies in the moment. I only think of the next touch. The next pass.And tonight, the ball and I were speaking the same language again.— Leo
Lionel Messi – Updated Stats (as of March 27, 2005)
Season (Club):
Matches: 34
Goals: 23
Assists: 27
Dribbles Completed: 172
Fouls Suffered: 84
Free Kick Goals (Match): 1
Free Kick Goals (Training): 17
Career Totals (Club + Country):
Matches: 36
Goals: 26
Assists: 29
Dribbles Completed: 188
National Team Caps: 0
National Team Goals: 0
La Liga Standings (After Matchday 23):
1st: FC Barcelona – 66 pts
2nd: Real Madrid – 63 pts
3rd: Sevilla – 59 pts
4th: Villarreal – 56 pts
World Football News – March 27
Premier League: Thierry Henry scores a hat-trick for Arsenal against Charlton.
Bundesliga: Dortmund's 17-year-old midfielder Nuri Şahin makes his debut.
Serie A: Inter Milan win in stoppage time; Adriano scores again.
South America: River Plate youngster Gonzalo Higuaín rumored to be on Real Madrid's radar.