Title race hots up as Barca held by Sevilla

MADRID, Mar 14 (AFP): Barcelona dropped two vital points in the La Liga title race as they could only draw 1-1 with Sevilla in Sunday's late match. Second-placed Real Madrid, who beat Hercules 2-0 on Saturday, are now just five points behind with the two sides going head-to-head next month at the Bernabeu. Barcelona completely dominated the first half and took the lead on the half hour mark through Bojan Krkic who came on for the injured Pedro Rodriguez. Andres Iniesta floated a pass to Diego Alves who found Bojan and he was able to walk the ball into the net. After the break it was a different looking Sevilla who pressed forward and got their reward with Jesus Navas heading in an Alvaro Negredo cross. Barcelona were on the back foot as Navas and Frederic Kanoute had good chances to score but late on the Catalan side rallied and could have won it when Iniesta hit the post. "Generally I am happy with the performance, we always looked to control the match but you have to realise that there are other teams playing as well," said Barca coach Pep Guardiola after the game. "We played against a good side but we deserved more from the first half. In the second half they improved and were strong on the counter-attack."