A goal from the French Antoine Griezmann in the final stage gave the three points to a reluctant Barcelona this Saturday that took a long time to start carburing, although in the end he imposed his best quality on a downcast and already descended Eibar.
The match was inconsequential for the league classification, with Eibar already declined from the penultimate matchday in a mathematical way, and Barcelona out of any option to win LaLiga Santander.
Despite this, the many unusual players on both teams came out eager. Barcelona began dominating and demonstrating the combinatorial quality that it treasures, although many of its star players were not on the field, starting with Messi.
However, the first warning was given by Kike García in minute 5 after receiving a pass from Soares, although his shot did not reach the goal well.
During its first minutes, the game ran through quiet channels and out of the competitive tension of having to score points for some objective and this improved the show with a more open football.
Eibar again tempted luck with a loose shot from Bryan Gil, after a spectacular gallop and a combination with Soares, but Neto stopped him without problems. The gunsmiths carried more depth than a Barcelona that was waiting.
The third local occasion came shortly after in a shot by Enrich after stealing a ball in the culé area that Mingueza deflected with his leg to a corner. And on the next play Inui, he fired a shot from far over the rival gate, but without consequences. Eibar showed more ambition than a laid-back Barcelona.
The visitors tried to react with a long shot from Mingueza that almost surprised a forward Yoel who stopped in a hurry. Eibar did not give up and Diop headed a ball over the crossbar on another armera occasion. Much more interest in Eibar to win the game against an unmotivated Barcelona.
In the 26th minute a free kick well taken by Correa ended up in the legs of Oliveira, who hooked a good shot that went high. The locals deserved the goal for their insistence and Barcelona showed no signs of reacting.
Kike García, after a beautiful cut that ended with a low and very well placed shot, had it again, but a saving hand from Neto prevented it. And without respite Inui again shot Neto, who also stopped her with his hand. Eibar had not encountered so many times in a row throughout the season.
Barcelona tried to reactivate their game in the final stretch of the first half, through Griezmann, who gave the culé team more speed, but without creating hardly any danger. It was Eibar who returned to have her on the edge of the break after a header from Kike García, who went high.
In the second half Koeman made three changes trying to reverse the situation with the entry of Umtiti, Alba and Brainthwaite by Mingueza, Junior and Trincao, while Mendilibar retired an injured Bryan Gil and put Pedro León in his place.
The changes seemed to take effect in the first instance, as Barcelona played more deeply and created more danger. In fact, the first time was through a cross shot from Dembelé that went over the net.
In the 54th minute the young Riqui Puig entered the field to replace an injured Ilaix. Barcelona seemed to take it more seriously in this second period, in which he began to impose his game.
Eibar entered a flatter phase, with much less offensive bite than that shown during the first half. Bryan Gil’s discharge took a toll on them. Barcelona was gradually becoming owner and lord of the field, although they were not able to materialize clear scoring chances either. A long shot from Pedro León was the poor offensive baggage of the gunsmiths during the first 20 minutes of the second half.
A play by Dembelé ended with a shot from the Culé player himself, who was about to overtake Barcelona, which was becoming more and more threatening. Eibar fell back in their area and already accepted the draw. Mendilibar opted for another triple change to refresh his team, bringing in Pozo, Bigas and Quique González. Arbilla in minute 79 launched a free kick that hit the Barcelona barrier when it was well aimed at goal, in another of the few armory occasions of this second period.
Barcelona had forgiven too much during this second half until he got tired and in minute 80 Griezmann with an unappealable volley put Barcelona ahead in a masterful way, after receiving a ball bounced by armorer defender Anaitz Arbilla.
The quality culé ended up prevailing, although Eibar tried to react by means of a shot from Inui, who hit Araujo, which deflected him to the crossbar.
In the next play Dembelé had it again, but did not enter. The last one was from Inui again, in another shot from afar that went high for very little. In the end, Eibar says goodbye to Primera with a defeat against a team that it has never been able to win in the 14 games they have played in the elite. EFE. (JL).