Lionel Messi scored a brace to inspire Barcelona to a 4-0 victory over SD Eibar. The game was far closer than the scoreline suggested, as Eibar made a good fist of the game after Munir El-Haddadi’s 7th-minute opener, although Suarez completed the rout late on after Messi’ brace had given Barcelona an unassailable lead.
Here are how the players rated:
SD Eibar
Asier Riesgo – 5.5/10
Despite conceding 4 goals, Eibar’s keeper could not do much to prevent any of the goals, as even the penalty was a wonderful effort from Messi. Riesgo did make a couple of decent saves from Suarez, which earns him a decent score.
Ander Capa – 4.5/10
Eibar’s right back was quite dismal throughout the game. Even when compensating for Barcelona’s brilliance, Capa was sloppy in a number of promising positions while also being humiliatingly nutmegged for Luis Suarez’s goal.
Aleksandar Pantic – 6/10
While Suarez and Munir made countless runs behind the Eibar defence, Pantic was quite alright in defence as he made a couple of last-ditch tackles to deny Suarez, while also making a couple of interceptions that snuffed out danger
Ivan Ramis – 5/10
The Eibar defender was unlucky to concede the penalty as the ball struck him from close range, but it’s defending 101 to wrap your hands behind your back when facing up one-on-one while in the box to block a cross. A yellow card picked up also negates his score further, although a header that went close redeems him slightly.
David Junca – 7/10
Eibar’s left back was their best player, as David Junca constantly overlapped, troubling Dani Alves with a high press. The 22-year-old should have also had an assist, as he sent in a delicious cross that Escalante missed.
Gonzalo Escalante – 5.5/10
The right winger suffered down the right as Munir and Alba troubled him with some swift interplay while he also missed Eibar’s best chance to equalize with the score at 1-0, volleying the ball wide when he was found unmarked at the far post by a cross from the left.
Josip Radosevic – 6/10
Radosevic picked up an early yellow card and walked precariously along his tightrope throughout. The midfielder made quite a few fouls, and with Barcelona swarming around him in the middle of the park, did well to not pick up a second yellow card. A couple of steals from Busquets also helped his score.
Dani Garcia – 5.5/10
The central midfielder could not affect the game in a positive way, and kept giving away niggly fouls in the centre of the park. A needless foul on Messi late in the second half almost proved costly, and Garcia received a yellow for mouthing off to the referee as well.
Adrian Gonzalez – 5.5/10
While Junca was especially bright down the left, Adrian was running in circles as Lionel Messi dragged him all over the pitch. The left winger was unable to combine with a promising Junca, which negated Eibar’s best attacking outlet
Borja Baston – 6/10
Baston gave Eibar a shock lead in the Nou Camp earlier in the season, but there was no cheer for the striker this time around. Baston pressed the Barcelona defender’s quite well and forced a couple of errors, but was unable to pounce on them.
Sergi Enrich – 6/10
Like his partner, Eibar’s striker also pressed the Barcelona defence well, while also having a couple of threatening moments.
Subs
Saul Berjon – 5.5/10
Came on for Enrich, but was unable to do much in the 22 minutes he was on the pitch
Izet Hajrovic – N/A
Came on in the 84th minute
Takashi Inui – N/A
Came on in the 90th minute
Barcelona
Claudio Bravo – 6.5/10
With Eibar unable to make the Barcelona keeper make a great save, Bravo’ s focus was on distributing the ball quickly, as a couple of quick releases enabled Barcelona to play on the counter.
Daniel Alves – 6/10
Aleix Vidal ought to be looking at Dani Alves’ performances and salivating – the Brazilian fullback was troubled by an overlapping Junca while also making a hash of a clearance that led to an Eibar chance. Alves did pop up in attacking positions occasionally but was unable to make a difference.
Gerard Piqué – 6.5/10
While Pique was quite adept at bringing the ball out from the back, he conceded possession a couple of times due to Eibar’ s high press, the first of which led to a corner from which Eibar nearly scored.Javier Mascherano – 5.5/10
A rather poor afternoon from the Argentinian, as he was caught out multiple times by a pressing Eibar striker, nearly gifting a goal one while also was lucky not to be sent off when he went in studs up on Enrich that earned him a yellow card.
Jordi Alba – 6/10
Jordi Alba missed Neymar Jr. ahead of him, as Munir was rather adventurous ahead of him, requiring Alba to be a bit more circumspect. A through ball to Suarez early on nearly earned him an assist, but that remained the peak of Alba’ s attacking efforts.
Ivan Rakitic – 7.5/10
While Rakitic was quiet in the attacking third, his role in transitioning the ball from defence to attack quickly enabled Barcelona to set up multiple counter-attacks. A good game from Barcelona’ s beating heart.
Sergio Busquets – 5.5/10
Barcelona’ s defensive lynchpin was unusually poor today. The Spaniard was involved in multiple turnovers that allowed Eibar to threaten, with the situation worsening in the second half. Busquets did manage to keep the ball moving though, which redeems him, if only slightly.
Arda Turan – 5/10
Barcelona’ s invisible man. Arda Turan has yet to settle in Barcelona’ s system, and when compared with Iniesta playing the same role looks rather mediocre. Turan barely impacted the game and was replaced by Sergi Roberto who did more in 10 minutes than the Turk did in 80.
Lionel Messi – 9.5/10
We’re accustomed to viewing 9/10 performances from Lionel Messi, but the Argentinian was magical today. Every Barcelona goal bar the last involved him, with the solo 2nd effort earning rave reviews, as did his panenka penalty. His chipped balls over the top could have earned him 3 or 4 assists, but his teammates let him down.
Luis Suárez – 8.5/10
The Uruguayan was at his aggressive best today, constantly haranguing the Eibar defence. His darting run set up the first goal while Barcelona’s fourth was a brilliant solo goal straight from the barrios of Montevideo that ought to be replayed over and over again.
Munir El-Haddadi – 7.5/10
The Barcelona youngster came in to replace Neymar and did not disappoint, scoring with his first chance, although he ought to have squared the ball to Suarez when put through by Messi soon after.
Subs
Sergi Roberto 6.5/10
Barcelona’s Mr. Versatile came on to replace Arda Turan and was instantly an improvement, passing and making forward runs while almost scoring with a late long-range effort.
Marc Bartra – 5.5/10
Came on for Gerard Pique, but was unable to affect the game much.
Thomas Vermaelen 5.5/10
Came on for Sergio Busquets and kept things neat and tidy, without doing much.
