Eibar vs Barcelona
Spain – LaLiga
Date: Saturday, 19 October 2019
Kick-off at 12:00 UK/ 13:00 CET
Venue: Estadio Municipal de Ipurua (Eibar)
News Team
Eibar
Mendilibar will be without the services of Gonzalo Escalante, who expelled their previous fixture against Real Betis. Ivan Ramis and Robert Correa will also lose to Eibar due to injury problems respectively. There is no other concerns for the hosts heading to the weekend clash against Barcelona.
Eibar is expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Marko Dmitrovic at goal. Paulo Oliveira and Anaitz Arbilla will man the center of defense for the home team, while the full-back slot will be occupied by Pablo De Blasis and Jose Angel, who should be fit after missing the last game due to injury.
33-year-Pape Diop will be the one that breaks down to play in the middle of the park. With regular partner Escalante suspended, Sergio Alvarez possibility yo get the nod on Saturday afternoon, while the third midfield slot should once again be taken up by the summer arrives Edu Exposito.
Fabian Orellana, who was the leading scorer for Eibar, must be maintained on the right wing while winger Japan Takashi Inui had to slot in on the opposite side. Spearheading the attack for Mendilibar side against the Catalans should Kike Garcia.
Possible Lineup (4-3-3): Dmitrovic; De Blasis, Oliveira, Arbilla, Angel; Alvarez, Diop, Exposito; Orellana, Kike, Inui
Barcelona
Barcelona will be without the services of Ousmane Dembele, Gerard Pique and children Ronald Araujo, who are all ruled out through suspension. Clement Lenglet his back after serving a one-match ban though, while Samuel Umtiti and Junior Firpo also returned to training after recovering from their injuries to the hands of champions encouragement.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is rumored to be handed a new contract by Barcelona, is the undisputed first choice between the sticks.
There must be some changes in defense, with Jordi Alba is expected to return at left back, which means Nelson Semedo moved to the right side with Sergi Roberto broken. Lenglet should be back at the heart of the Barcelona defense and despite the return to fitness Umtiti, Jean-Clair Todibo likely to get the nod ahead of compatriot in Eibar.
Arturo Vidal has been impressed in the past few games, but manager Valverde has found the perfect trifecta midfield in Arthur Melo, Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong. He is expected to remain with the combination of their trip to Ipurua this weekend.
Captain Lionel Messi is clear to start on the right wing for Barcelona, while Luis Suarez is automatic pick in the center-forward role. With Dembele out, Antoine Griezmann is expected to return to the lineup on the left, although the teen sensation Ansu Fati is also an attractive option for Valverde.
Possible Lineup (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Semedo, Todibo, Lenglet, Alba; de Jong, Busquets, Arthur; Messi, Suarez, Griezmann
STATS
Both sides have come up against each other on ten occasions, such as Barcelona won nine of them.
Their latest meeting, however, ended in a 2-2 draw in the final round 2018-19 campaign.
Lionel Messi scored twice in the match, securing his record sixth European Golden Shoe, which was presented to him only a few days ago.
Eibar 2-1 defeat of Espanyol in their first home game this season, but won their next two games at the Estadio Municipal de Ipurua, 3-2 and 2-0 against Sevilla vs. Celta Vigo.
Barcelona, on the other hand, have won just once in five games on the road this season, netting a total of four goals in the process.
The Catalans, however, have the most effective attack in the league, with 20 goals in the opening eight rounds of La Liga.
Eibar vs Barcelona Predictions
Blaugrana delivered a convincing victory against Sevilla last day. The result is clear even before the first round has entered the final stage, with three different players chipping in with a goal. Then, talisman Lionel Messi also contributed with one of his exploits to start scoring goals for the campaign.
Meanwhile, Jose Mendilibar's men were held 1-1 by Betis, although the former found the back of the first clean and then held the lead for more than a third of the tie.
Till now, Real Madrid has been setting the pace for the rest of the team to participate in La Liga. They are at the top of the standings and is still the only unbeaten squad in the entire list. With already eight match-days, and a Clásico looming, man Valverde needs to win here at any cost.
It helps that they have dominated the h2h meetings for some time. In fact, ignoring the results of a single draw in 2019, two-time defending champions have won every other game since 2014. In addition, they have scored two goals or more in 100% of the meeting, and impressively kept clean sheets in six of the previous ten clashes, and in four of the last five in this place.
Consequently, waiting for visitors to come out on top in style this weekend.
Eibar vs Barcelona Betting Tips
Barcelona Win @ 1.50 (1/2)
More than 1.5 Team Goals by Barcelona @ 1.44 (4/9).
