For the second week running Spanish international Xavi came to Barcelona's rescue, scoring a 75th minute equalizer to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw at ten-man Sevilla on Saturday.
Barca looked to be heading for defeat after 19-year-old Diego Capel had put Sevilla ahead in the first half but Xavi, who scored a late winner against Osasuna last weekend, leveled to snatch a draw.
"We came from behind to get a point so that is something," said Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta. "It is so difficult to win here at Sevilla. We tried but just came up short."
Sevilla, who were reduced to ten men late on when Seydou Keita was sent off, stay seventh and will rue the missed chance to bolster their European push.
Barcelona were without Carles Puyol, Deco, Yaya Toure, Samuel Eto'o, Bojan Krkic and Gianluca Zambrotta so coach Frank Rijkaard brought in Mexican striker Giovanni Dos Santos, Oleguer and Edmilson.
Sevilla welcomed back Keita and Freddy Kanoute to the starting line-up after the duo's return following Mali's elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Brazilian Daniel Alves almost opened the scoring after 10 minutes when his fierce free-kick was punched away by Victor Valdes.
The game was played at an incredible tempo, with two of the most attacking teams in the league both going for the jugular.
However, Sevilla always looked the more likely to score and on 34 minutes Capel arrived late to steer in a Jesus Navas cross for his first goal of the season.
Ronaldinho came on at the beginning of the second half for Edmilson as Rijkaard pushed for an equalizer.
It came from Xavi with a quarter hour remaining, with the midfielder drilling a low shot through the hapless Palop who should have done better.
Earlier, Villarreal reclaimed third place with a last-gasp goal from Guille Franco clinching a 1-0 win over Real Murcia on Saturday.
"We have taken three points from a very difficult ground, something that Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid didn't manage," Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini said.
Troubled Deportivo La Coruna shared a 1-1 draw with Getafe that does little for either team.
Deportivo lie in 15th place, a point from the relegation zone, while Getafe stay 11th in mid-table obscurity.
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