Barcelona splashed their way back to the top of La Liga with a majestic Leo Messi scoring twice at a rain-soaked Sanchez Pizjuan.
The Argentine's double took him to 225 league goals and he is now only two behind Alfredo Di Stefano, three behind Raul and just 26 behind the competition's all-time top scorer Telmo Zarra.
It's been an-off season by his incredibly high standards but judging from this gutsy display it might still be one that ends with a league title.
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Winning in the rain: Lionel Messi scored a fantastic goal to give Barcelona a 2-1 lead against Sevilla
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At the double: Messi (left) scored twice to help Barcelona to a 3-1 win against Sevilla
Match facts
Sevilla: Bastos Pimparel, Figueiras, Moreno, Carrico, Fazio, Pareja, Gameiro (Cheryshev 64'), Iborra (Trochowski 63'), Bacca, Rakitic, Machin Perez(Bustara 77')
Subs not used: Varas Herrera, Navarro Corbacho, Cristoforo, Reyes
Booked: Carrico, Figueiras, Cheryshev
Goals: Moreno 15'
Barcelona: Valdes, Montoya, Adriano, Song, Bartra, Pique, Xavi (Busquets 83'), Iniesta, Messi, Sanchez (Sergi 88'), Pedro (Fabregas 72')
Subs not used: Pinto Colorado, Afellay, Tello, Dani Alves
Booked: Song, Valdes, Pedro
Goals: Sanchez 34', Messi 44' & 55', Fabregas 87'
Ref: Jesus Gil Manzano
Att: 27,500
Sevilla took the lead after 14 minutes when Rakitic got the better of Pique and played a one-two inside the area with Kevin Gamiero.
As the ball was played across the face of the six-yard box both Carlos Bacca and Vitolo let it run and Alberto Moreno arrived to drive past Valdes with a little help from a deflection from Marc Bartra.
There was some fortune about the strike but not the build-up. Barça had eight players in the penalty area as they conceded but none of them could prevent the goal.
Bacca could then have doubled the lead but saw his header come back off the post from Rakitic's free-kick. Barcelona had to wait for the 24th minute for their first chance with an Adriano shot saved by Beto.
Xavi then shot weakly with Martin Montoya free to his right. It was disjointed from Barcelona with Messi picking the ball up deep and often giving it away.
Alexis squandered another chance and Sevilla raced away with Rakitic choosing to ignore Vitolo and shoot wide of Valdes goal.
Sevilla supporters, getting drenched in the open terraces of their concrete bowl stadium not built for torrential downpours, sensed that their team would rue the missed chances and soon Barça were level.
Messi delivered the free-kick and from a marginally offside position Alexis' clever back-header driftted beyond Beto and made it 1-1.
Barça were still hanging on at the other end every time Sevilla came forward and coach Tata Martino seemed to be urging his players to hang on until the break but Messi had other ideas.
Adriano launched a rapid counter-attack, Pedro picked out Messi and the Argentine took one touch to control the pass before shooting past Beto to give Barcelona a somewhat undeserved half-time lead.
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Lead: Victor Valdes (right) is beaten by a deflected shot from Sevilla's Alberto Moreno
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Happy camp: Sevilla players celebrate their opening goal during the La Liga match against Barcelona
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Back in it: Alexis Sanchez celebrates pulling Barcelona level in the first half against Sevilla
Barcelona started the second half strongly with Alexis going close and Xavi passing when he should have tested Beto himself. At the other end Valdes saved from Bacca and Gameiro as Sevilla again failed to turn opportunities into goals. And again they paid the price.
Iniesta's pass did not seem to be intended for Messi but still he took it into his stride and rifled it home to put Barcelona 3-1 up. Sevilla had more chances to come back into the game but Bacca hit the side netting and substitute Denis Cheryshev missed when clean through against Valdes.
Cesc Fabregas came off the bench to get the fourth from Alexis' cross and the match officials missed Fazio's trip on Messi inside the area. Five-one would have been even harsher on Sevilla who have now lost their last three games conceding 10 goals.
For Barcelona it meant 'normal business restored' after just six days off the top of the table following that run of 59 weeks as leaders.
They are joined by both Madrid clubs however - level on points and ahead only on goal difference - in what looks like being one of La Liga's most exciting run-ins for years.
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Slippery: Piotr Trochowski (left) vies with Sanchez on the drenched Sevilla pitch
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Leading man: Messi (right) celebrates with his team-mates in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium
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Man in charge: Barcelona boss 'Tata' Martino gives instructions to his players during the La Liga clash
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Record breaker: Messi (left) became the only player to score 334 goals for a single Spanish club
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