Eibar’s aggression backfires against Barcelona first-team

EIBAR, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 17: Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the La Liga match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Ipurua Municipal Stadium on February 17, 2018 in Eibar, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
EIBAR, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 17: Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the La Liga match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Ipurua Municipal Stadium on February 17, 2018 in Eibar, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Ernesto Valverde fielded his first-team against Eibar, and it paid off

EIBAR, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 17: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between Eibar v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on February 17, 2018 in Eibar Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
EIBAR, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 17: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between Eibar v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on February 17, 2018 in Eibar Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Ernesto Valverde had been expected to field a second-string lineup against Eibar in order to rest the first-team players for the trip to London. But he prioritised the La Liga instead, and decided to give more importance to retaining the 7-point lead over Atlético Madrid.

The match started off with Barcelona on the back foot. José Luis Mendilibar employed a high-pressing tactic and the Barça defence were bombarded by Eibar. They almost scored in the 2nd minute. But Barcelona caught them on the counter, and took advantage of Eibar’s aggression up front.

The Eibar defenders were holding a high line, and Lionel Messi beautiful diagonal ball found Luis Suárez in behind, and he took the ball around Marko Dmitrović and passed it into an empty ball. The Uruguayan used his shrewd footballing intelligence to judge the ‘keeper’s movement, and did not commit a mistake he had earlier done.

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Then, the game went end-to-end. Both sides got opportunities, but not clear-cut ones. Fabián Orellana hit the crossbar with a dipping shot, but Eibar’s chances were limited by an excellent performance by Gerard Piqué and Samuel Umtiti.

Both teams went into half-time tired and fatigued from a highly physical first-half. In the second half, the match went on like before, end-to-end. This continued until Sergio Busquets was fouled by Papa Diop.

It was a firm challenge, but not one that would bring Busquets to the ground. Referee Hernández Hernández awarded a free-kick to Barcelona, and showed Papa Diop a yellow card. It infuriated the crowd, the Eibar coach and most notably, Fabián Orellana.

The Chilean initially protested the decision, and while walking away, he batted away the ball with his hand when it was thrown back onto the pitch. He received a booking for this unprofessional act, and it was his second yellow.

After Orellana was sent off, Eibar rejuvenated themselves, only to find themselves managerless within a couple of minutes. Manager José Luis Mendilibar passionately protested a decision by the referee, and found himself banished to the stands.

From then on, it was a monopoly for Barça. This domination culminated in a goal in the 88th minute. Philippe Coutinho lifted an elegant ball over the Eibar defence for Sergi Roberto, who passed it to Lionel Messi.

The Argentine tried to dribble past the goalkeeper, but the ball got deflected into the path of Jordi Alba, who used his right foot to finish the game off.

Next: Are Barcelona truly turning into Real Madrid?

This is an importantly victory for Barcelona. It will ensure that the Blaugrana retain their position at the top of the table. But it also mean that some of the first-team players will be tired going into the Champions League Round of 16 match-up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.