Sevilla's Vitolo: 'Lionel Messi was the difference'

Sevilla attacker Vitolo has admitted that his team could not control Barcelona's Lionel Messi in the second half of Sunday's pulsating La Liga contest at the Estadio Ramon.

Vitolo sent his team ahead in the 15th minute of the match, but Messi equalised in the 43rd minute, before setting up Luis Suarez for Barcelona's second as the Spanish champions recorded a 2-1 win.

Sevilla's goalscorer branded Messi "the best player in history" and has admitted that the Argentine international was the difference between the two teams on the night.

"Messi was no surprise, he is the best player in history and he knows how to run a game. In the first half we pressured him well but in the second he made the difference," Vitolo told reporters.

Sevilla have collected 21 points from their 11 league games this season, with that total leaving them in fifth position in the table.