Match Preview: Eibar v FC Barcelona

After reclaiming top spot in the league last weekend thanks to the 6–1 home win over Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid’s defeat at Athletic Bilbao, Luis Enrique’s side will be in no mood to relinquish the leadership when they visit Ipurua for the very first time on Saturday at 6.00pm CET.

Team news

Luis Enrique’s side trained for the final time on Friday before the trip to the Basque Country to take on Eibar. Defender Martín Montoya took part in the session and was named in the 18-man squad after training separately from the rest of the team on Thursday. Brazilian full back Douglas was also named in the party to travel to Gipuzkoa, with both Dani Alves and Jordi Alba missing through suspension. Sergio Busquets is still out after suffering an ankle injury in the Spanish Cup against Villarreal last week, while Thomas Vermaelen is also missing as he continues his recovery from surgery. The good news is that Neymar returns to the squad after serving a one-game ban last weekend in the win over Rayo Vallecano.

Eibar will be without ex-Barça B player Abraham due to injury. Striker Ángel is out after a recent bout of appendicitis, while midfielder and captain Dani García will also be missing due to suspension after receiving a red card in last weekend’s 2–1 defeat away at Levante.

Coaches’ viewpoint

Barça coach Luis Enrique is not thinking beyond the game this weekend in the Basque Country despite the proximity of both the Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Manchester City and the Clásico in the league against Real Madrid. “For me there's only one game, and that's the Eibar game," he assured. "Eibar are dangerous, both because of where we're playing them and their need for points," warned the Asturian coach.

Rival coach Gaizka Garitano is a former Eibar player and was under no illusions about the challenge facing his side: “We have respect for FC Barcelona, but not fear. It will be difficult, but we will try. It will be a special game for us that we will be talking about for years.”

Form guide

Since the disappointment of losing at home to Málaga, the blaugranes have put together a run of four successive wins, during which they have reached the final of the Spanish Cup, taken a big step towards reaching the last eight of the Champions League and reclaimed top spot in La Liga.

Eibar had been in the top of the table for most of the season before a recent run of seven consecutive defeats in the league which has left them in 14th place in the table, just three points above the relegation zone. Garitano’s side only fell three times at home in the first half of the season, but have now lost a total of six times in Ipurua, including the last three league games against Atlético, Elche and Athletic Club.

Ones to watch

Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic celebrated his 27th birthday in midweek and, speaking to the press this week, admitted that the squad were not taking Saturday’s game lightly: “We respect Eibar and will prepare it as well as we can. We know it will be a tough game; they are a good team and played well against us at the Camp Nou, so we know what to expect.” If Xavi Hernández appears in Ipurua it will be his 750th game in official competition for the club, an amazing achievement for a man who, according to his coach, “is a positive force both on and off the field, and carries enormous weight in the locker room.”

Eibar have three former Barça players in their ranks. Abraham is out injured, but both Saúl Berjón and Dani Nieto should be in the squad to face the blaugranes, All three enjoyed spells at Barça B, with Berjón playing under current first-team boss Luis Enrique.

History

Eibar are in their first ever season in the Spanish top flight following two successive campaigns that saw them rise from the depths of the Second Division B to the First Division in just two years. The sides’ only previous meeting came back in October when the blaugranes won 3-0 in the league, with Eibar managing to hold out for nearly an hour before Xavi put the home side ahead.

Coverage

No matter where you are in the world we have you covered. And remember, you can enjoy live commentary in English on Radio Barça. The link will appear at fcbarcelona.com just before kick-off. Twitter users can follow @FCBarcelona for a live feed of all the action.