Eibar vs Barcelona predictions, H2H and match preview for this Saturday’s game in La Liga. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as the defending champions head to the Basque Country.
Eibar vs Barcelona Preview
Eibar have ruffled a few feathers during their time in the big league but until May, they’d failed to even take a point off Barcelona. That changed when the sides played out a 2-2 draw at Ipurua at the end of last term and the Basques should be able to confidence from both that result and their recent form heading into this game.
Their season already feels like it has had its big turnaround moment. Trailing 2-0 at home to Sevilla, they looked every bit the relegation candidates that their league position suggested they might become. However a stirring 2nd Half comeback saw them come back to win 3-2 and a couple of positive results since then ensure they head into this match in decent form with 7 points from their last 3 games.
Barcelona meanwhile have won four straight matches in all competitions since losing at Granada in a fashion far from befitting of champions. Their response has been strong with Leo Messi getting back towards full fitness and Luis Suarez hitting form. The Uruguayan is Barça’s top scorer this term with 4 league goals to add to the brace he netted against Inter Milan in the Champions League.
Antoine Griezmann is likely to return to the eleven here on the left flank with Ousmane Dembélé suspended but Barça still have some selection issues at the back. Gerard Pique is also suspended and with Samuel Umtiti unlikely to be fit enough to start, Jean-Clair Todibo should get another opportunity in central defence. Eibar meanwhile will be without Gonzalo Escalante who saw red last time out at Betis.
Eibar vs Barcelona Predictions
Score Prediction: 2-2 Draw
Barcelona could really have done with Gerard Pique here with Eibar sure to fire in lots of crosses and test youngster Todibo and a defence that hasn’t fully convinced this term. Griezmann should come back in but Barcelona haven’t really found the right balance yet in the final third since his arrival and in-form Eibar look capable of getting something from this game.
Eibar vs Barcelona H2H
- Last 6 meetings: 5 Barça wins, 1 Draw.
- Eibar have only taken 1 point from their 10 league meetings with Barcelona.
- That came in the most recent clash in May – 2-2 at Ipurua.
- They’d not scored a home goal against Barcelona prior to that, with the Catalans winning by 2-0 or more on each of their previous 4 visits.
Next up in La Liga: Atletico Madrid vs Valencia preview
Predicted Line Ups
Eibar Team:
Dmitrovic – Tejero, Oliveira, Arbilla, Cote – Diop, Alvarez – Inui, Exposito, Orellana – Charles (4-2-3-1)
Barcelona Team:
ter Stegen – Alba, Lenglet, Todibo, Semedo – Busquets, de Jong, Arthur – Griezmann, Suarez, Messi (4-3-3)
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