LaLiga 2018-19: 3 Reasons why Barcelona won against Eibar

With an urgent need to bounce back from the Mid-week Copa del Rey loss to Levante, FC Barcelona desperately wanted to ease through Eibar to maintain their top position. The visitors were also not in their best of forms coming into this match. However, as it is in the beautiful game of football, Eibar were determined enough to create some problems for the home side at the least.

Right from the start, the men in white were far more organized in defense and attack than their counterparts. While they failed to capitalize on the chances, it took a moment of magic from Luis Suarez and Philip Coutinho to open the score-sheet for La Blaugrana.

Contrastingly, the start of the second half marked a typical dominating play from the Red and blue stripes. Two quick goals from the League leaders, early in the second half meant that lead at the summit remains abound and the match was over well before time. Barcelona eventually won the match 3-0. Let us now look at three reasons why Barcelona won against Eibar.

#1 Players availability

Levante v FC Barcelona - Copa del Rey Round of 16

After quite some time Ernesto Valverde had most of his key players available at his disposal except Samuel Umtiti. But Clement Lenglet hardly let our thoughts dwell about the Frenchman’s absence. The absence of injury woes availed several options to the manager.

Having all of the important players and their second fiddles fully fit made it possible for the Ex-Athletico Bilbao boss to field a strong team and substitutes with further energy. The availability of abundant talent in the squad made it possible for the home side to pitch in with a superb first goal even amidst intense pressure from visitors. It is important to note that two of the three goals for Barcelona did not involve their captain at all.

#2 Eibar were not clinical

Not so usually does a team get to trouble the league leaders at their own backyard. Finding themselves with such an unusual advantage, Eibar forwards were not so clinical in the front of the goal. Striker Sergi Enrich was having a top game during the first half, causing numerous problems to the opposition.

The disturbance at the heart of defense was not capitalized on. For a major part of the first half, the visitors' bottled a handful of chances by just falling short off the knack to find the back of the net.

Even during the second half, they had many chances but failed to find the back of the net. Nevertheless, Ter Stegen was hardly tested and was forced to save a small number of shots. Lacking the finishing touch before half time proved costly once the tie was decided few minutes into the second half, thanks to two quick goals.

#3 Reality check from the Mid-week loss

The midweek loss against the minnows Levante meant not just a reality check but also a wake-up call for the defending champions. It meant that the treble would not simply fall at the champions’ feet but would demand hard strive.

The call seemed to be heard quite well by every player. Every single Barcelona player reacted in a professional manner despite a sluggish start. Philippe Coutinho looked to prove his worth and went on to put in a fine performance.

On the other side was his North American counterpart, who hardly put a foot wrong. Luis Suarez looked in perfect shape, showing glimpses of his Liverpool days and was directly involved in all the three goals.

In spite of the fact that the duo were the best players of the match, Lionel Messi stole the limelight for his record-creating 4ooth league goal, a feat achieved by nobody else.