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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Oct 18, 2014 at 7pm UK
 
Eibar logo

3-0

Xavi (60'), Neymar (72'), Messi (74')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Player Ratings: Barcelona 3-0 Eibar

Sports Mole takes a look at who impressed during Barcelona's 3-0 win over Eibar in La Liga.

Second-half goals from Xavi, Neymar and Lionel Messi helped Barcelona beat Eibar 3-0 in La Liga this evening.

Eibar frustrated the home side for long spells, but were undone in the final 30 minutes at the Camp Nou.

Here, Sports Mole analyses how each individual player performed during the La Liga clash.


Barcelona's midfielder Xavi Hernandez scores a goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Eibar at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on October 18, 2014© Getty Images

BARCELONA

Goal

Claudio Bravo: Summer arrival still has not conceded for Barcelona and he continued his impressive run of form with a strong and confident performance between the sticks. (7/10)

Defence

Dani Alves: Had plenty of the ball in the first period, but frustrated with his crossing accuracy. The Brazilian made his mark in the second half, however, setting up Neymar with a brilliant cross from the right. (7/10)

Gerard Pique: Had a couple of nervy moments defensively, especially in the first period and really should have opened his scoring account for the season after being presented with a number of headed chances. (6/10)

Jeremy Mathieu: Continues to impress at the heart of the Barcelona defence. Not the fanciest of defenders, but does his job well. Has quickly become a firm favourite with the club's supporters. (7/10)

Jordi Alba: Played almost as a left-winger as he continued to provide an outlet in the wide positions. The Spaniard's pace caused Eibar's back four all sorts of problems. (7/10)

Midfield

Xavi: Excellent all-round performance from the skipper, who scored his side's first with a clever chip into the far corner. Controlled the entire tempo of the match from a deep position. (8/10)

Javier Mascherano: Deployed in a midfield role this evening due to the absence of Sergio Busquets and the Argentine slotted effortlessly into the middle of the park. (7/10)

Sergi Roberto: Showed some nice touches in the first period, but never really stamped his mark on the match before leaving on a stretcher in the early stages of the second period. (6/10)

Attack

Pedro: Another poor showing from the Spaniard, who could leave Barca in January. Should have scored in the second period from a sweeping Iniesta pass, but his weak effort was straight at the goalkeeper. (5/10)

Lionel Messi: Moved onto 250 league goals for Barcelona with a great finish after 74 minutes. That was after he had set up Xavi with a super pass for his side's breakthrough goal. (8/10)

Neymar: Was frustrated for long spells of the contest, but made his mark in the latter stages by netting his eighth league goal of the season with a powerful volley. (7/10)

Substitutes

Andres Iniesta: Replaced Roberto early in the second period and immediately influenced proceedings, with his forward passing forcing Eibar to drop deeper and deeper. (7/10)

Sandro Ramirez: Continued his impressive start to the season with a solid cameo display. Forced the Eibar goalkeeper into a couple of decent saves with efforts from distance. (6/10)

Munir El-Haddadi: Like Sandro, Munir also made a positive contribution from the bench. Had a couple of half-chances late on, but could not add to his scoring tally for the season. (6/10)


Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona duels for the ball with SD Eibar players during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and SD Eibar at Camp Nou on October 18, 2014© Getty Images

EIBAR

Goal

Xabi Iruretagoiena: Made a number of smart saves throughout the contest and cannot really be blamed for any of Barcelona's goals. Neymar's effort was right at the stopper, but it had so much power. (6/10)

Defence

Eneko Boveda: Was part of a defensive unit that contained and indeed frustrated Barcelona for 60 minutes, but their shape became stretched in the latter stages of the contest. (6/10)

Raul Albentosa: Used his sizeable frame to make his mark on the Barcelona attack, but simply could not deal with the change of tempo when it rose in the second 45 minutes. (6/10)

Borja Ekiza: Proved a strong presence in the air during spells when Barca delivered crosses from a wide area, but he was guilty of going to sleep when the home side scored their second and third within minutes. (6/10)

Abraham Minero: Was given licence to roam into midfield, but the Spaniard struggled for possession in an area that was dominated by Xavi. Needed a little bit more help from those around him. (6/10)

Lillo: Was perhaps a shade fortunate not to be sent off after making a couple of rash challenges while on a booking. The full-back was also untidy in possession of the ball. (5/10)

Midfield

Dani Garcia: Always willing to drive at the Barcelona defence, but faded in the second period after impressing in the first. Will cause problems this season when given more of the ball. (6/10)

Jon Errasti: Put himself about in the middle of the park, but struggled to make his mark in an attacking sense, spending much of the contest trying to help out his back four. (5/10)

Ander Capa: Had a brilliant chance to send his side ahead in the latter stages of the first period, but somehow missed an open goal after rounding Bravo. It was a golden chance for the Spaniard. (5/10)

Javi Lara: Always a threat from set pieces, but did not have too many chances to deliver this evening. Came as a surprise when he was substituted just before Barcelona scored their first. (6/10)

Attack

Saul Berjon: Provided a decent outlet in the final third, but was also guilty of missing a golden chance when he fired straight at Bravo after breaking into the Barcelona box. (6/10)

Substitutes

Federico Piovaccari: Replaced Lara after 57 minutes and proved a busy presence in the final third. Had a half-chance late on, but could only fire his effort into the arms of Bravo. (6/10)

Derek Boateng: Replaced Capa 15 minutes from time and put himself about without really influencing the match. (5/10)

Dani Nieto: Showed some nice touches after entering late on, while his dribbling did unsettle the Barca defence. Was a surprise that he was not included in the first XI. (6/10)


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Barcelona's midfielder Xavi Hernandez scores a goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Eibar at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on October 18, 2014
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