Looking for an unprecedented qualification for the continental tournament, Eibar receives this Saturday, February 17, Barcelona, undefeated and fired leader of the 2017/2018 season of the Spanish Championship. The game is part of the schedule of the twenty-fourth round and will be held from 13:15 (Brasília time) at the Estadio Municipal de Ipurua in Eibar.
The recent performance of Eibar
Eibar reached two important victories in the previous rounds. First, at home, they applied a historic thrashing in Sevilla, by 5 to 1. Following, as a visitor, defeated Leganés by 1 to 0.
With that, he had 35 points (11 wins, three draws and nine losses). It ranks seventh, first out of the European tournament qualifying zone. It is only a point behind Sevilla, sixth placed.
However, they may be able to play in the European League for the first time in their history even if they are seventh. The King of Spain Cup, which opens its champion a place in the tournament, will have finalists Barcelona and Sevilla. As they are both on the continental qualifying round, this could increase the seventh-place berth. In that case, the Eibar has two points of advantage in comparison with Betis, which is in eighth place.
Your home-based campaign is comparatively even better. Eibar is the sixth best entrant of the current LaLiga season. He has 21 (six wins, three draws and three losses) of his points in that way.
To try to accumulate more, coach Jose Mendilibar has to deal with two medical problems involving top athletes who may miss the team on Saturday. Defender Paulo Oliveira (18 matches in the 2017/2018 Spanish League without a goal) and striker Sergio Enrich (19 matches, three goals) are in the ward.
The current form of Barcelona
Barcelona gave signs of slowdown in the Spanish Championship. Conceded the last two matches. He went 1 to 1 as a visitor in the Catalan derby with Espanyol and did not go from 0 to 0 at Camp Nou in front of Getafe.
That did not change much the situation of the Barça in the dispute of LaLiga. With 59 points (18 wins and five draws) he remains in the lead and undefeated. His advantage for Atletico Madrid, however, was reduced from 11 to seven points.
Although he has been in a better position, the Catalan team is still very calm in the competition and so maybe coach Ernesto Valverde makes some changes between the starters for Saturday’s match. That’s because Barcelona will resume next Tuesday, February 19, their participation in the Champions League. They will face Chelsea in the first leg of the round of 16.
One possibility is to give Lionel Messi a break (23 games in the 2017/2018 Spanish Championship, 20 goals) or Luis Suarez (20 games, 16 goals). Even the two can benefit. This would be done with the entry of Ousmane Dembéle (five games, no goal) as the starter. The Frenchman, who was hired to replace Neymar, suffered two muscle injuries that kept him out of the field for a long time. He returned to play against Getafe. He played for 28 minutes and could be called up on the main team this Saturday.
Of the cast, Valverde probably will not have as option for the confrontation the defender Thomas Vermaelen (eight games, without goal), that is in the care of the medical department.
History of the bouts between Eibar and Barcelona
There were seven matches involving the teams. The Barça won all. The most recent in the first round of the 2017/2018 Spanish Championship. Goleou by 6 to 1.
Barcelona’s priority is certainly their game against Chelsea. With the title of the Spanish Championship very well guided and already guaranteed in the decision of the Glass of the King, the equipment slowed the pace in the last departures. You should not change your posture this Saturday. This opens the possibility for a risky hunch at Eibar, which is coming up. The owners of the house are priced at 6.50 in Bet365. Draw presents prize of 4.50. Barça win returns 1.45. Quotes were in effect at 13:55 on 2/15/2018.
1st TIP: Barcelona win @ 1.45
2nd TIP: DRAW @ 4.50
