BARCELONA, Spain -- Lionel Messi scored two goals and set up another to lead Barcelona to a 4-1 comeback victory at Sevilla on Sunday, moving the defending champions into a three-way tie for the Spanish league lead. Despite Barcelona showing the same vulnerability in defence, Messis best performance since returning from a lengthy injury layoff ensured that his side bounced back from a defeat by Valencia in the previous round. Barcelona is now level with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the top of the standings after 23 rounds. Sevilla dominated the first half hour on the Sanchez Pizjuans water-logged pitch and went ahead through Alberto Morenos 15th-minute goal. But as the rain showers turned into a downpour, Messi supplied a free kick for Alexis Sanchez to equalize in the 34th before the Argentina forward blasted in his first goal in open league play since Sept. 28, before his injury. With Sevilla surging forward after halftime, Messi stepped up once more to score from Andres Iniestas pass in the 56th. Substitute Cesc Fabregas capped the win with Barcelonas fourth goal two minutes from time. "Leo always shows up," Iniesta said. "He is one of those few players who can change a game if you give him a few meters, and he almost always does so." Last week, Messi converted a penalty in the loss to Valencia, but otherwise he hadnt scored in the league since returning in January after being sidelined for two months with a left hamstring tear. Messis double on Sunday gave him 11 league goals this season despite his extended absence. Alexis leads the team with 14. Elsewhere, Osasuna beat Getafe 2-0 at home to move four points clear of the relegation zone. Real Sociedad was held 0-0 at its Anoeta Stadium by Levante and the inspired form of goalkeeper Keylor Navas, while substitute Humberto Osorio scored twice as Valladolid came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Elche. Sevillas players must have wondered how they went into halftime losing 2-1 after bossing the first half on a wet pitch that slowed the ball but not the frenetic pace. Unai Emerys side only allowed Barcelona to create two clear scoring chances, and both ended in goals, while the hosts provoked havoc in Barcelonas box throughout. "It hurts of course because we had done a good job," Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic said. "But when you play against the best they punish you for any mistakes you make." Rakitic helped to open the scoring by steering a team buildup more similar to Barcelonas passing prowess than Sevillas counterattacking style. He combined with two players inside Barcelonas area before the ball reached Moreno for a shot that flew off Marc Bartra and into the net. Sevilla pressed its advantage and every corner and free kick inspired panic in Barcelonas defence. Carlos Bacca headed Rakitics free kick off the upright in the 20th, and Bacca set up Rakitic in the 29th only to see him stroke the ball wide. Alexis scored against the flow of play when he used the back of his neck to glance Messis free kick beyond goalkeeper Antonio "Beto" Bastos - while appearing to be in an offside position. Messi had been kept quiet until he broke loose in midfield and passed wide for Pedro Rodriguez, who returned the ball for the Argentine to strike a left-footed shot into far corner the net. After halftime, the game opened up and both sides exchanged scoring opportunities. But after Sevillas Victor Machin had squandered a one-on-one and Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes saved back-to-back shots from Bacca and Kevin Gameiro, it was Messi who again showed that he has recovered his form. Messi controlled Iniestas crisp pass with one touch while at full trot and unleashed another left-footed effort that skipped off the soggy turf before bouncing in off the post. "Those who say something negative about Messi risk challenging his pride," Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino said. "The next rival up pays the price, like today." Fabregas scored from close range after Alexis provided the pass, with Sevillas defence in tatters. Barcelonas veteran defender Carles Puyol was dropped from the squad early in the day due to back pain. Joe Torre Jersey . Niese pitched seven steady innings on a rainy Tuesday night and Daniel Murphy had three hits to lead New York to a 6-1 victory over the Phillies. Adeiny Hechavarria Jersey .com) - The Hatch Attack is back in the Southern Conference. https://www.cheapbraves.com/263o-bryse-wilson-jersey-braves.html . Even if he is shooting 38 per cent from the field overall this season, the Utah Jazz rookie always feels like his final shot is going in. Ender Inciarte Braves Jersey .com) - On the bright side, either the Minnesota Wild or Buffalo Sabres will end their losing streak on Thursday night. Tony Larussa Braves Jersey .com) - The Utah Jazz look to put an end to their five-game losing streak when the Denver Nuggets visit Salt Lake City Monday night.Not many outside the International team room are giving the squad from the rest of the world much of a chance in this years Presidents Cup and looking at the records of the 24 players involved, you can understand that stance. On paper, it looks a little like Andre the Giant taking on a midget wrestler. It has all the makings of a rout with the Americans adding an eighth win in nine outings of this biennial event. The Yanks have eight players in the top 15 in the world while the Internationals have just one. Every golfer wearing a U.S. uniform is inside the top 30 while only six of the Rest Of The Worlders are there. The International team also has seven first timers while only one American golfer ? Jordan Spieth ? hasnt been on either a Ryder or Presidents Cup team. Maybe its finally time to bring in the handicap system to professional golf. You know, put some saddle bags on Tiger Woods or perhaps let the Internationals play it forward. "I mean, I understand that and how it looks on paper," said Adam Scott, the highest-ranked International player. "Its hard to write off guys who are the Top 60 in the world, because on any given day, anyone can beat anyone and weve seen that a million times, especially in 18-hole match play. Yeah, I see how that looks. I also see seven guys here for the first time pumped up and ready to go, and I think thats giving me a great feeling about a new experience in The Presidents Cup after having a run of really, some big defeats. The atmosphere in our room is great this year." The Americans can, in some ways, sympathize. They have been regular punching bags of the Europeans at the Ryder Cup of late, including a humiliating Sunday loss last year in Chicago. But theyre not about to roll over just so this tournament can get some legs. "Regardless of what past results have been," said Phil Mickelson, "its a tournament we very much want to win, we very much want to play welll in, and we want to represent the United States with class and pride in a way that everybody can be proud.dddddddddddd So we want to play well, and past performance has nothing to do with it." "I think everybody on our team realizes weve got a tough test in front of us," said Brandt Snedeker, who will partner with Hunter Mahan to take on Canadas Graham DeLaet and Jason Day. "I think we realize all these guys except for probably Matsuyama is probably the guy we know the least about. The rest of the guys we play on a regular basis. We see them a lot and realize how good theyre playing, and these guys are by no means the underdogs theyre trying to make themselves out to be." Captain Nick Price isnt as worried about winning the Cup as he is in making it close, something that hasnt happened lately. Of course hed like to win and to do that, hell need to find a way to keep things from getting out of reach before the Sunday singles. "I think more important than anything else, this Presidents Cup needs to be very competitive," said Price. "Because in the past, the last four Presidents Cups, you can argue either way, but I honestly believe they have not been that competitive." Not competitive? The Internationals havent just been losing, theyve been getting hammered. Since they tied in South Africa in 2003, theyve lost by three points, five points, five points and four points. Not exactly nail-biting stuff. For the Internationals to make a game of this, theyll need to rely on the naivety of their rookies who, as Graham DeLaet pointed out this week, dont know what they dont know, and some exceptional play from the veterans such as Scott and Ernie Els. You never say never in a game like golf, but certainly this would be an upset of monumental proportions. While the odds may be long, the upside of a win would be ever-so sweet. In sports, theres nothing like kicking a little U.S. butt. ' ' '