'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Looking to maintain their 100% league record, Barcelona welcomed Eibar to the Nou Camp in a Tuesday night clash. What followed was an entertaining encounter for the neutrals.
After a spirited start from Eibar, Barcelona restored the natural order when Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 20th minute. He converted a penalty after Nelson Semedo was pushed over in the penalty box. Barcelona doubled their lead when Paulinho headed home in the 37th minute and from then on, the match was pretty much smooth sailing. The Catalonians added a third in the 53rd minute when Denis Suárez converted from close range.
Eibar tried to muster up a comeback 4 minutes later as Sergi Enrich slotted home a cool finish. However, those dreams were dashed minutes later as Lionel Messi produced a cool finish from the edge of the box. The Argentinean decided to complete his hattrick in the 61st minute as he dribbled through the Eibar defence to poke a neat finish through. Messi scored Barcelona's sixth in the 87th minute after an intricate one-two with Alex Vidal.
The win leaves Barcelona clear at the top of the table with 5 wins out of 5 games.
Here are the main talking points from Barcelona’s 6-1 win over Eibar.
#5 Barcelona have sufficient squad depth
For this game, Ernesto Valverde made five changes from the team that beat Getafe 2-1 on the weekend. Out went Ousmane Dembele, Luis Suárez, Ivan Rakitic, Samuel Umtitti and Jordi Alba, in came Denis Suárez, Gerard Deulofeu, Paulinho, Javier Mascherano and Lucas Digne.
It was a makeshift Barca XI but they were still able to conjure up a dominant 6-1 win. Of course, the exploits of Lionel Messi went a long way but each of the unfamiliar starters played their part.
Ernesto Valverde can now rest assured that his team have the squad depth to compete on all four fronts this season. The only way to put behind them a disastrous summer window is to progress far in all the cup competitions.
#4 Gerard Deulofeu replaces Ousmane Dembele
On the weekend, the £97million-rated winger limped off with a thigh injury that will see him miss the next four months. The official club website says the Frenchman ruptured a tendon in his thigh. The injury came in the youngster’s first start for the club, making it even the more difficult to swallow. However, as one door closes, another opens and Gerard Deulofeu will now be starting in his place.
Against Eibar, Deulofeu ensured he took advantage of the situation by putting in a stellar performance. The Spaniard provided constant width on the right flank, making himself an ever-present passing option for Lionel Messi. In his performance, Deulofeu completed 2 successful take-ons, 35 passes and created 2 chances.
#3 Eibar took the game to Barcelona
Most teams who come to the Nou Camp often find themselves camped in their own half for most of the game, looking to just hit on the counter. Eibar tried to execute the best of both worlds.
They defended in mass but also attacked in mass. The idea was to stifle Barcelona whilst defending but to also overload them in the attack by surprising them with sheer numbers. If it weren’t for poor finishing, it’s not inconceivable that last year’s 10th placed team could have earned a point at the Nou Camp.
Eibar hit the woodwork twice and attempted more shots on goal (13) than Barcelona (11) managed to. They forced Germany’s no.2 to make more saves than he usually does as he made 3 crucial stops to keep Barcelona’s lead intact.
#2 Paulinho in the starting XI
Initially, the Brazilian’s arrival was greeted with disdain and mixed reaction from the Barcelona faithful. However, a string of sturdy performances and a winning goal later, he’s now been fully accepted into the Barca family. He was rewarded for his contribution with his first start in last night's home game against Eibar.
The Brazilian returned the favour by scoring his 2nd goal in two games. Not only did he score, the former Spurs man was influential in two other goals for Barca, directly assisting Messi’s third.
On top of that, he was everywhere on the pitch in both attack and defence. Paulinho completed 39 passes with a 95% passing accuracy, created 1 chance and executed 2 take-ons. It was an all-around performance from Barca’s new box-to-box midfielder.
#1 Messi Magic, again!
For the second time in three games, Lionel Messi took home the match ball at the Nou Camp. The Argentinean scored four goals to help Barcelona maintain their 100% win record in La Liga this season. A penalty, a long-range daisy-cutter and two short-range pokes made up the tally for Messi, once again showing how versatile he is in finishing.
We’ve become all too familiar with the 30-year old being the epicentre of everything good at Barcelona, against Eibar he proved that he’s still one of the best to ever lace a pair of boots.
Even when he wasn’t scoring, he was influencing the game. It was his effort on goal that led to the Eibar keeper pushing the ball into the path of Denis Suárez for Barcelona’s 4th. With Cristiano Ronaldo only now making his return to La Liga action, the Barca star already has a massive head start on the 2017 Ballon d’Or winner for the La Liga Golden Boot.
