Barcelona were not overly impressive on Saturday against Eibar, but they really didn't need to be as they fought their way to a 2-0 win. Lionel Messi scored twice, penalty in the first half and headed goal in the second, to lead the Blaugrana, keeping them in first place going in to next weekend's Clásico.
3 things we learned from Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Eibar
Messi’s brace ensures the Blaugrana will remain on top of La Liga for another week.
Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Not much happened in the match until the 30th minute when Barcelona's patient and persistent attempts to break down Eibar's defense paid off with a penalty. Luis Suárez's shot from just inside the area deflected off the foot of one Eibar player before hitting Ekiza's out-stretched arm. Lionel Messi stepped up and blasted the penalty past Jaime, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Messi doubled the lead, and put the match away, in the 54th minute with a bouncing header off a Rafinha corner. Messi got away from his marker and moved into space, meeting the ball and heading down towards the fair part where an Eibar defender couldn’t keep it out of the net.
It was pretty, the defense had some shaky moments, but in the end, Luis Enrique’s side got three points and can now look ahead to Manchester City in the Champions League and next weekend’s match against Real Madrid.
Barcelona: Bravo, Adriano, Bartra, Piqué, Montoya, Rafinha, Roberto, Rakitić (Xavi 62’), Neymar (Pedro 70’), Suárez, Messi
Goals: Messi (31’, 54’)
Eibar: Jaime, Didac Vilá (Boateng 77’), Castellano, Navas, Ekiza, Bóveda, Lara, Errasti (Capa 58’), Fernández, Berjón, Manu (Piovaccari 69’)
Goals:
3 things
1. Eibar’s stadium is wonderful - It’s small, weird, and one side of the stadium only has a half stand. Near midfield the stands end and there’s just a view of a section of the city. It looks like you could step right off the pitch, jump over the wall of ads and take a stroll down the street.
2. Barca need Sergio Busquets healthy for the Clásico - The midfielder absence didn't hurt Barca against Eibar, but he's the key to making their midfield work at its best. Sergi Roberto might get there at some point, but at the moment, they're just plain better with Busquets playing.
3. Barca are winning ugly when they have to - Last season Barca’s inability in a few games to grind out results against teams that were sitting back and forcing them to break though 9 or 10 players. Eibar tried to do exactly that on Saturday, and Barca got the job done, scoring a couple goals and getting three points. Nobody remembers how the wins looked generally, especially if the points add up to a league title in May.
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