Sevilla 0-0 Barcelona: Title race slips out of Barca's hands

Luis Suarez usually puts them in. You know the type of shot. The ones that aren’t too easy, the ones that save Barcelona when they needed it most. They needed it here but Suarez’s vicious effort from Jordi Alba’s cross flew high, narrowly over the crossbar.

It was their best chance and it came two minutes from the end, stretching their lead from two points to three at the top of La Liga, but the mood was deflation.

“It’s no longer up to us,” said Gerard Pique in the empty Sanchez-Pizjuan, because now if Real Madrid win the rest of their matches, nine in total, they will be champions.

They sit three points behind Barcelona but have a better head-to-head record, and can pull level when they visit Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Suarez started for Barcelona, which was a surprise. It was more of a surprise that he stayed on until the end, but Quique Setien didn’t have a lot of options.

The first half’s most notable moment came when Lionel Messi pushed Diego Carlos and a scrap ensued. It was a tense match, an intense one too, but not necessarily a good one.

Sevilla came out the stronger, boosted by Ever Banega, and only Marc-Andre ter Stegen denying Munir El Haddadi (remember him?) and Lucas Ocampos kept Barcelona level.

Lionel Messi came close but not close enough with some free kicks, but Barcelona lacked wit in their attacking play.

It could be that this was the third game in a week which was holding them back. Or maybe they’re just not that good. It was the ninth time they have gone goalless this season across all competitions. Something they haven’t managed since the 2007-08 campaign.