Top spot going into the 'Clásico'
Barcelona beat Eibar 2-0 at the Ipurúa stadium thanks to a brace from Leo Messi, meaning that they head into the 'Clásico' holding the top spot. The Argentine converted a penalty in the first half and headed home his second after the interval.
Prior to entertaining Manchester City in the Champions League, and thanks to the sharpshooting Messi, Barcelona are now certain to remain at the top of the Spanish BBVA league when they go into next week's Clásico against Real Madrid. Messi converted a penalty on the half hour in the match at Eibar, and executed a perfect header in the 54th minute, and so Barcelona ran out winners by 2-0. This means that, with Real Madrid's match against Levante tomorrow night yet to come, Barcelona have a four-point lead over them at present.
The main features of the match were Barcelona's injuries, the size of the Ipurúa stadium, the heavy rain and the crowded Eibar defence. However, Luis Enrique's players possessed enough patience and put their faith in Messi to keep them at the top of the table. Barça worked hard and calmly right through the first half, yet barely had a single goalscoring chance, despite looking dangerous twice in the first minute. There was an occasional flash of brilliance from Messi, and then the penalty brought a degree of calm and Barça started the second half which was just as wet, but as coolly conducted as the first half had been.
Feeling that a second goal was necessary to secure a crucial victory, Messi took not much more than ten minutes to bring it about. He rose on the penalty spot to connect with a corner taken by Iván Rakitic, and headed a perfect goal, putting his side 2-0 up, and reassuring Barcelona that the three vital points were in the bag, guaranteeing their being at the top of the league, whatever happens in the Real Madrid-Levante game.
