Ronald Araujo canceled Papu Gomez's opener as Barcelona and Sevilla shared points in LaLiga on Tuesday, a result that did not help either team's aspirations.
Both goals came in an entertaining first half due to rain at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizzuan Stadium.
Jules Kounde was sent off to Sevilla after the break, but despite playing against 10 men for half an hour, Barca could not snatch a winner that would have seen them climb into the top four for the first time since August.
Instead, Xavi Hernández's side slipped to seventh, two points away from a Champions League spot, while Sevilla missed their chance to move to within three points of Real Madrid. They are in second place, five points behind the leaders.
"We have dropped two points," Xavi said at his post-game news conference. "We deserved to win, even when it was 11 against 11, but I have seen Barcelona with character and that's what I want. The team is growing.
"So, overall, it's a bitter feeling. I'll fight for gold [because] we had to win, especially against 10. When we have extra man we should be calm, but I'm on the team regardless of the result." Proud, that was the worst part of the game."
Barcelona got off to a strong start despite wet conditions in the south of Spain. Sevilla goalkeeper Yasin Baunou saved the opening Frankie de Jong header, while Ferran Jatgala twice shot wide from distance.
Sevilla evolved into the game as a threat to Rafa Mir. A goal was dismissed by the striker for offside before firing the target from 20 yards.
Gomez eventually broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute for the home side. A clever corner routine ended with the Argentine forward finishing brilliantly from inside the box.
Barca leveled with a corner of their own just before half-time, with defender Araujo topping Ousmane Dembele's delivery into the corner.
Sevilla were the better side at the start of the second half, with both Mir and Thomas Delaney missing out on chances, but the pace picked up when Kaunde was dismissed. The French defender, reacting to Jordi Alba, earned a straight red by throwing the ball into the face of a Barca player.
Gavi had a decent chance with Barca chasing a winner, but it was Dembele who saw the most potential for something of late. The France international hit the woodwork with a decent individual effort before setting up substitute Luuk de Jong to play against his parent club, only for the Dutch striker to move straight to Baunau.
Jordi Alba had time to force a final save from Baunau even in stoppage time, as both teams were forced to settle for a point.
We have taken a step forward. We played well against a tough team in Sevilla. We deserved more because we were better in the second half. There were good spells in the first half too, so it's a shame that we switched a bit for his target. We are on the right track," Araujo said after the match.
Xavi said: "We lacked some luck. Usman [Dembele] hit the post, Gavi came close. The team competed, they're improving and pressing well. Barca to win the game But we are on the right track. This Barca is exactly what I want."