FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (left), duels for the ball against Sevilla’s Adil Rami (second left), during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Feb 28. (AP)

MADRID, Feb 29, (AFP): Barcelona came from behind to equal a Spanish record of 34 games unbeaten in all competitions by moving eight points clear at the top of La Liga with a 2-1 win over Sevilla.

Sevilla were the last side to beat Barca back in October and deservedly struck first through Vitolo.

However, as so often of late, Barca recovered from a slow start thanks to Lionel Messi’s brilliant free-kick and Gerard Pique’s winner early in the second-half.

Luis Enrique’s men have now matched Real Madrid’s record run from the 1988-89 season and in doing so moved 12 points clear of third-placed Madrid.

Atletico Madrid remain Barca’s closest challengers after beating Madrid 1-0 on Saturday.

“We are in great form, but records don’t mean anything. At the end of the day everything is judged by titles,” Pique told Movistar+.

“Our season is well on track, but we need to finish it off.”

Sevilla were a constant threat on the counter-attack, but should have taken the lead from a set-piece when Timothee Kolodziejczak somehow blazed over from point-blank range.

Sevilla were a constant threat on the counter-attack, but should have taken the lead from a set-piece when Timothee Kolodziejczak somehow blazed over from point-blank range.

However, as ever Messi came to the fore when Barca needed him most and the five-time World Player of the Year levelled with a stunning free-kick high into the far corner 11 minutes later.

Sergio Rico prevented Messi turning the game around single-handedly before the break with a great save low to his left.

Standings

                    P    W    D    L    GF     GA    Pts

Barcelona            26    21    3     2     69      21     66

Atletico Madrid         26    18    4     4     36      11     58

Real Madrid          26    16    6     4     71      25     54

Villarreal             26    15    7     4     33      18     52

Sevilla               26    11    8     7     37      28     41

Celta Vigo            26    12    5     9     39      44     41

Athletic Bilbao         26    11    5    10     38      35     38

Eibar                26    10    6    10     40      35     36

Real Sociedad        26     9    7    10     36      35     34

Deportivo            26     6   14     6     33      32     32

Malaga              26     8    8    10     23      23     32

Valencia             26     7   10     9     30      29     31

Real Betis            26     6   10    10     21      36     28

Espanyol            26     8    4    14     26      50     28

Getafe               26     7    5    14     26      40     26

Rayo Vallecano       26     6    8    12     36      53     26

Las Palmas           26     6    6    14     25      40     24

Sporting Gijon         26     6    6    14     30      46     24

Granada             26     6    5    15     27      51     23

Levante             26     5    5    16     24      48     20

Note: Standings read as played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against & points.