Barcelona held by Eibar despite Lionel Messi double
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Updated 19/05/2019 at 17:03 GMT
La Liga, Ipurua - Eibar 2 (Cucurella 20', De Blasis 45') Barcelona 2 (Messi 31', 32')
Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates with teammate Malcom after scoring his team's second goal during the La Liga match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Ipurua Municipal Stadium on May 19, 2019.
Image credit: Eurosport
Lionel Messi scored twice but it was not enough to give Spanish champions Barcelona a winning finale to the season in a 2-2 draw against Eibar at Ipurua.
Ernesto Valverde picked a relatively strong side for Barca’s last game of the 2018/19 La Liga season although injuries to Arthur, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele forced his hand somewhat.
Marc Cucurella struck the opener on 20 minutes for Eibar, who finished their campaign 12th in La Liga, with Messi turning the match on its head with a classy double on 31 and 32 minutes.
But Pablo de Blasis earned the home side a point with an equaliser on 45 minutes, slicing a strike into the top corner after Jasper Cillessen came off his line to make a headed clearance on the edge of his own box.
Barca finish the season as champions on 87 points, 11 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid with Real Madrid 19 points off top spot after their 2-0 home defeat to Real Betis earlier on Sunday.
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Eibar drew 2-2 with Barcelona
Image credit: Eurosport
TALKING POINT - Has Nelson Semedo knock added to Barca’s injury troubles?
At first it looked like Nelson Semedo would run off a knock picked up towards the end of the first half. However, the Portuguese full back didn’t emerge for the second half, raising concerns that he could be an injury concern ahead of next week’s Copa del Rey final against Valencia.
Valverde already has injuries to Arthur, Coutinho and Dembele to contend with and won’t want another ahead of such a big game.
"When you have nothing at stake you are always less keen in a game, in the end we drew but I think we have ended the season well," said Valverde.
"We have been champions for a while now, we were very consistent throughout the campaign. We had a few difficulties early in the season, but we overcame them."
MAN OF THE MATCH - Marc Cucurella (Eibar)
Most Spanish clubs insert what is known as a ‘fear clause’ in the contract of players they send out on loan. Barcelona didn’t do that in the loan contract of Cucurella, although they might wish they had after this performance.
The 20-year-old was the best player on the pitch, scoring the opener and creating a number of other opportunities. He was unfortunate not to score the winning goal late on.
PLAYER RATINGS
- Eibar - Dmitrovic 5, De Blasis 7, Oliveira 6, Ramis 6, Cote 5, Escalante 6, Jordan 5, Orellana 7, Cucurella 8, Enrich 7, Charles 7..subs - Cardona 5, Alvarez 5, Garcia 5
- Barcelona - Cillessen 4, Semedo 5, Pique 7, Lenglet 6, Alba 5, Busquets 5, Rakitic 6, Roberto 6, Vidal 5, Messi 8, Malcom 6..subs - Alena 5, Perez 6, Wague 5
KEY MOMENTS
- 20’ GOAL! Eibar 1-0 Barcelona: Eibar have taken the lead! Barcelona haven't covered themselves in glory there. Pique slipped, allowing the pass to be made in behind for Cucurella. Cillessen should then stop his low drive, but it somehow squirms through the body of the Dutch goalkeeper!
- 31’ GOAL! Eibar 1-1 Barcelona: Messi has levelled things up for Barcelona! It was just too easy for him! Eibar failed to track his run, Vidal found it brilliantly with a superb pass in behind, Messi took a touch to create the angle and then slid the shot underneath Dmitrovic and into the back of the net!
- 32’ GOAL! Eibar 1-2 Barcelona: Two goals in two minutes for Messi and Barcelona have turned this match around! The Argentinean started his run in his own half, was found by a pass and then it was just a foot race into the Eibar penalty area. Messi then chipped Dmitrovic rather than going around him this time!
- 45’ GOAL! Eibar 2-2 Barcelona: My word! What a sensational goal from De Blasis! Cillessen came off his line to clear with his head. He was off his line, but there was still so much work for De Blasis to do to find the net. But he did it with a sliced lob of sorts. What technique that was! Incredible!
- 81’ Blasted over the bar! A sitter! That should have been a third goal for Eibar! Orellana's cross finds the feet of Cucurella 12 yards out, his touch sets him nicely, but from about eight yards out he puts his shot over the bar! Wow!
KEY STATS
- Eibar claimed their first ever La Liga point against Barcelona in 10 previous attempts
- Jasper Cillessen made two errors leading to goals this season in his three La Liga appearances, as many as Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made in 35
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