What the Sevilla bench asked Lionel Messi before he came on to inspire Barcelona draw

Barcelona players celebrate Messi's goal in 2-2 draw against Sevilla. [Photo: Courtesy]

Footage has captured the hilarious moment Sevilla's bench asked Lionel Messi to take it easy against their side, just minutes before he came on to inspire a Barcelona comeback.

The 30-year-old started as a sub on Saturday because of the same reasons he missed Argentina's recent friendly.

But after his side fell 2-0 down, Ernesto Valverde was forced to risk his biggest star in a bid to keep Barcelona's unbeaten La Liga run going.

In the footage of Messi warming up, cries from Sevilla's bench can be heard saying: "Eh, Tranquilo eh!"

The Sevilla staff were essentially asking Messi to 'go easy' on their side.

However, their request was ignored. Luis Suarez began Barca's comeback in the 88th minute before Messi equalised just 54 seconds later, despite not running once between goals.

And according to Guillem Balague, Messi walked because he was instructed to.

He was given two instructions before the game against Sevilla because of his unspecified muscle complaints, which it seems is just fatigue," Balague wrote for Sky Sports.

"To not risk anything he was asked not to do long sprints and not to change pace very quickly. He did that, and in the 54 seconds between the two goals, if you watch him, he walks.

"I imagine he thought we will have another chance and he just walked when Sevilla restarted the game and only changed his pace when he received the ball for the second goal."