Eibar 0-3 Barcelona: Recap

Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Great win!

Barcelona have now won five games in a row in all competitions and will for at least a few hours be top of the table in La Liga thanks to a fantastic 3-0 victory against Eibar on Saturday’s early kickoff. For the first time this season the Blaugrana were dominant away from home, with a complete performance in defense and attack and a lethal 90 minutes from all three members of the ‘MSG’ trio. Very exciting stuff.

FIRST HALF

Barça made a great start to the game, with quick and smart passing to find spaces inside the Eibar defense and create scoring chances, and they scored a quick opener after a great pass from Clément Lenglet found a wide open Antoine Griezmann who showed poise in front of goal and easily beat the keeper.

The Blaugrana didn’t stop attacking after the first goal and continued to create chances thanks to some beautiful passing combinations in the final third, with the front three constantly looking for each other at the edge of the box. Lionel Messi looked hungry for goals and had at least two really good opportunities, but the captain was surprisingly wasteful in the first half.

At halftime Barça were dominant and looked like clear favorites to win, but the poor finishing meant they still needed to complete the job in the second half.

SECOND HALF

The Catalans did not drop their level at all after the interval and continued to press and attack, with really good chances coming thick and fast against a defense that looked lost and helpless against all the movement and passing in the final third.

The finishing was better in the second half, and within the first 20 minutes of the period the Blaugrana had the win in the bag: first it was Messi who scored after a brilliant passing sequence at the edge of the box featuring Frenkie De Jong, Luis Suárez and Griezmann, then Suárez joined the scoring party with an easy tap-in after a wonderful through ball from Griezmann and an assist from Messi.

The final 15 minutes were about Eibar trying to get a consolation goal while Barça looked to add a fourth on the counter, but neither team managed to succeed and the final whistle came to end a dominant performance on the road from the defending champions. Good job.

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Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Roberto (Semedo 45’), Umtiti, Lenglet, Alba; De Jong (Rakitic 78’), Busquets, Arthur (Vidal 70’); Messi, Suárez, Griezmann

Goals: Griezmann (13’), Messi (58’), Suárez (66’)

Eibar: Dmitrovic; De Blasis, Oliveira, Arbilla, Cote; León (Expósito 62’), Diop, Álvarez, Orellana; Charles (Kike 78’), Enrich (Inui 70’)

Goals: None

Source: barcablaugranes.com