Spanish league leaders, Barcelona, were unable to break Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on Friday, 19 June 2020 as they were held to a goalless draw, leaving the title race wide open with eight games remaining.
The Catalans are currently still topping the league with 65 points gotten from 30 games with second-placed Real Madrid on 62 points with a game at hand.
Madrid, however, can go above their rivals if they beat Real Sociedad away on Sunday due to their superior head-to-head record.
Related: Spain unveils naked statue in honour of Barcelona legend, Andres Iniesta [photos]
Sevilla sits comfortably in the third position with 52 points and Atletico Madrid makes up the top four with 49 points.
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.
He also was involved in an altercation with Sevilla’s Diego Carlos before half time. Messi was seen to have pushed the player to the ground after he had fouled Suarez and was lucky not to get a sending off during the game.
Luis Suarez made his first start since returning from knee surgery in an attacking trio alongside Messi and Martin Braithwaite as Antoine Griezmann dropped to the bench and the Catalans freely moved the ball around in the first half.
Suarez missed a glorious chance from a position he normally would have scored from but he could be pardoned as he only just returned from a knee injury.
Sevilla, however, sat deep, often playing with five at the back, and it proved effective as Barcelona saw lots of the ball but failed to create many clear-cut opportunities.
Related: Barcelona win against Leganes – Ansu Fati and Messi score
I think Real is the happiest about this result. Winning the league is now in their own hand.