Sevilla: Title-chasing Barcelona was held to a 0-0 draw at Sevilla on Friday as it dropped points in La Liga for the first time since the season restart.

After the result, Barcelona has 65 points from 30 fixtures while Sevilla has 52 from the same number of games as its opponent. Talisman Lionel Messi went into the match on 699 career goals, but failed to get his 700th for club and country, coming closest with a first-half free-kick, which was headed off the line.

Sevilla’s Sergio Reguilon had a glorious chance to snatch a winner in added time. The ball fell into the full-back’s path at close range, but he hit it into the ground and Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made a comfortable save. Luis Suarez made his first start since returning from a knee surgery in an attacking trio alongside Messi and Martin Braithwaite as Antoine Griezmann dropped to the bench.

The away side freely moved the ball around in the first half. Messi had two free-kick attempts while ex-Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic narrowly missed the target from inside the box. There was tension just before half-time when Messi pushed Sevilla’s Diego Carlos to the ground after the latter had fouled Suarez.

However, the Argentine escaped without a booking for the incident, after which Sergio Busquets was shown a yellow card. Sevilla regrouped after the break and had the better chances, with Lucas Ocampos smashing a shot against Ter Stegen, who also thwarted former Barcelona forward Munir El Haddadi.

Suarez had the visitor’s best chance after the interval, but failed to keep his stinging shot under the bar. Keeper Ter Stegen came up to contest a corner in added time, underlining Barcelona’s desperation to win the game and boost its title chances.