A first meeting between Barcelona and Eibar, and for an hour at Camp Nou the Catalans struggled to breakdown the Basque’s five-man defence. Barca enjoyed their usual vastly superior levels of possession; they didn’t enjoy getting jeered off the pitch at half-time by a 75,646 crowd frustrated that the visitors had created the best two chances.
Eibar’s coach and players have risen together from the third division and begun the season impressively. On average gates of 2,900 last term and only 4,200 this, they’re the smallest club ever to reach Spain’s top-flight and were relegation favourites, yet they’re comfortable in mid-table and almost shocked the hosts.
Barca coach Luis Enrique insists on a high defensive line which is suseptible to lapses and Eibar striker Saul, who spent two seasons under fellow Asturian Enrique at Barca B, took advantage of a communication mix-up in the Barca defence in the 42rd minute. Saul only had Claudio Bravo to beat, but nobody has beaten Bravo so far. In eight league games (and two Champions League games) this season, the Chilean is yet to concede and in his club’s 3-0 win against Eibar he matched the Barca record for consecutive clean sheets. If he breaks it then it will be in next Saturday’s clasico against Real Madrid.
Bravo was a close season signing from Real Sociedad to replace Victor Valdes and again performed well, yet he misread an incoming ball in the 40th minute and winger Capa swept past him to face an open goal. The Basque, 22 and an Eibar player man and boy, put his big chance wide. There would be no more.
It took Barcelona an hour to unlock a defence which looked like it had spent the two-week international break preparing for a first visit to Camp Nou. With no international contingent they enjoy such luxuries. Eibar also insist that every player lives in the valley town of 27,000 to foster a better team spirit and fan relations.
Barcelona’s collection of stars returned from around the planet on Wednesday and Thursday, jet-lagged and jaded. One who stayed at home was Xavi Hernandez, now retired from Spain duty and Enrique wisely started him.
Xavi, 34 and Barca’s all-time appearance holder, has been subject to sustained conjecture about his departure from the club well before his contract finishes in 2016, but he was the game’s most effective performer. Using him sparingly may frustrate him, but he looked fresh and sharp. Supporters will miss his balletic brilliance and passing when he’s gone, while his boss and one time teammate said: “Whether he plays or not, Xavi always helps the team. Xavi playing well is a nice problem for me and you want to have those as a coach.”
Xavi opened the scoring for the league leaders in the 59th minute, passing forward to Lionel Messi in the penalty area and then running untracked through the Eibar defence. Xavi received the ball back from Messi and shot low past Xabi Irureta. Messi has been directly involved in 17 of Barcelona’s 35 league goals so far.
Eibar’s defence was breached and their resolve eroded. The 400 travelling fans could be proud of their effort, but they were 2-0 down after 72 minutes when Dani Alves, another Barca player subjected to departure rumours, chipped a cross to compatriot Neymar. The striker volleyed so quickly past for his eighth goal in seven league games that Irureta didn’t see it until it was beyond him.
“I like the energy Alves brings to the team,” Enrique told reporters after the game. “He’s a wonderful player, the best in his position. I’m very happy with him.”
Messi made it 3-0 two minutes later with his eighth league goal this term. He charged towards the area, passed to Neymar, received the ball back and finished with a left foot strike from an implausible angle, squeezing the ball inside the far post. It was Messi’s 250th league goal, one short of Telmo Zarra’s all-time record. It will delight planet Barca if he can match and even surpass that record at the Bernabeu, a stadium where he’s never received the warmth of past Barca geniuses like Ronaldinho.
Madrid not only have a far superior squad to Eibar, they boast better players than Barcelona. The clasico is eagerly awaited yet the Catalans could still introduce Andres Iniesta against Eibar and their passing was quicker for his presence, their threat more obvious as he made five key passes in a half hour cameo.
Encouraging too was the understanding between Messi and Neymar. After a sub-standard, injury-hit start to 2014, Messi has been excellent under Enrique, while he and Neymar scored and provided assists. Both looking forward to Luis Suarez boosting their attack next week. That’s not something Eibar nor Real Madrid would relish facing.
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