Andres Iniesta has backed teammate Lionel Messi to continue delivering the goods after the Argentine star played a key role in Barcelona’s come-from-behind victory at Sevilla on Sunday.

Barca fell behind to Alberto Moreno’s early opener before Messi’s pinpoint free-kick was turned home by Alexis Sanchez, with the goal allowed to stand despite the Chilean being offside.

Messi then took over, scoring his first league goal in open play since September with a brilliantly struck half-volley to send his team ahead, and then adding a second with another superb finish as Barca eventually ran out 4-1 winners.

Before the game a number of pundits had suggested that Messi looked uninterested or unhappy, with former Barca assistant manager Angel Cappa claiming he had become “bored” of football.

But Iniesta, whose pass to Messi created the Argentine’s second goal, believes it was foolish to even suggest that his superstar teammate would fail to emerge from his barren run, stating: “Messi always responds.

“He’s one of the few players who can change a game in just a few minutes. He made the difference and he’s a fundamental player for us.”

The victory allowed Barca to regain top spot in La Liga thanks to their superior goal difference over Real and Atletico Madrid, with all three teams level on 57 points.

Although the margin between the trio of title-chasers could not be closer, Iniesta believes his team’sposition at the top of the pile is a big psychological advantage, saying: “It was important to go top again.

“When you have a chance, you have to take advantage of it. I think this victory will give us strength for the games to come, and we will fight to the end.”

Meanwhile, Barca and title rivals Real Madrid will see their television revenue limited under a new Spanish law.

The teams won’t be able to receive more than four times as much broadcast income as the smallest of the 20 clubs in La Liga under the legislation, league president Javier Tebas revealed yesterday.

Real and Barcelona currently earn about 6.5 times as much as the smallest team, Tebas said.