Eibar vs. Barcelona: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
The smallest-ever side to compete in La Liga, Eibar, welcome the mighty Barcelona to their tiny Ipurua Stadium on Sunday.
With 11 games left of the league season, the Basques have all but secured their place in the Spanish top flight for another year unless they have an unfortunate run of form similar to the last campaign.
Eighth going into the 2014/15 winter break, by May Eibar found themselves in the relegation places.
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Only Elche's financial mismanagement saved the club from going straight back down to the Segunda Division, but thanks in no small part to president Alex Aranzabal's studious management of the club, their second season has been on a much more even keel.
Having said that, seven defeats out of the last eight in all competitions has things looking ominous for the minnows again.
But teams don't tend to enjoy going to Ipurua, even when victorious.
Up in the mountains in a town with a population of just 27,000, supporters can almost touch their heroes thanks to the stands being in such close proximity to the pitch.
With a capacity of just 5,500, the ground would appear more at home in the lower reaches of the Spanish football pyramid.
This will be Barca's second visit, and Luis Enrique would take another 2-0 win to keep the Catalans ticking over at the top of the pile.
In his pre-match press conference, per the club's official site, he noted:
"At home they are especially dangerous because of the size of their pitch and their fans. We know that from the game we played there last season.
They have a different manager this year and a different set of players. That will make the game more difficult, like any game away from home.
"
Whatever the outcome of this match, for the first time in 2016 Barca will have a midweek break afterward.
What better reward before a short rest than yet another three points in this record-breaking campaign.
Date: Sunday, March 6
Time: 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET
Venue: Ipurua Municipal Stadium, Eibar, Spain
TV Info: Sky Sports 5, Sky Sports 5 HD (UK only)/beIN Sports 1 (U.S. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go app (UK Only) / beIN Sports Connect (U.S. only)
Form Lines
Predicted Formations
Jose Luis Mendilibar will rely heavily on frontman Borja Baston's prowess in front of goal as he once again sets his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Jota, Adrian and Takashi Inui are a cogent attacking unit, and they all know their roles and those of their colleagues.
As such, the three dovetail seamlessly behind Borja, playing with a degree of freedom in so doing.
Their movement has this season confused defenders, who are unsure whether to stray from their post and follow their man or stay put.
Either way, the advantage has invariably fallen the way of the Basques, who've taken their chances when required.
Dani Alves ideally needs to stay at home as much as possible in this match, but if we assume a marauding run or two up the line is on the cards, then Inui will take the opportunity.
Gerard Pique needs to be ready to cover his full-back, with Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba making up the Barca back four.
Josip Radosevic has been poor for long periods this season, and against Arda Turan, he'll be given a tough 90 minutes.
Ditto Gonzalo Escalante, who has old twinkle toes himself, Andres Iniesta, to take out of the equation. That's easier said than done.
Sergio Busquets will continue to play the unsung hero in front of his defence, mopping up any loose balls.
Lionel Messi, and Luis Suarez could have a field day against the hosts' underperforming defence. With Neymar suspended after picking up a yellow card against Rayo Vallecano on Thursday, Munir El Haddadi gets another unexpected chance to shine.
David Junca, Ion Ansotegi, the error-prone Mauro Dos Santos and Lillo have been poor as a unit, and only the prowess of 'keeper Asier Riesgo has kept them competitive in some matches during the campaign.
Claudio Bravo completes the two lineups.
Player to Watch
Borja has been on fire up front for Eibar this season.
Sixteen goals and two assists, per WhoScored.com, is a record far in excess of any of his team-mates', and his efforts are the main reason why the little Basque club already has more points this season than it managed in the last campaign.
In a rich vein of personal form leading into this match, Barca's defenders will need to be on their toes against an intelligent forward who will cause them untold problems given half a chance.
Mendilibar's attacking setup, Borja gets licence to drift either side or go direct for the jugular.
Such freedom allows the striker the opportunity to create for team-mates, as well as get on the end of chances himself. Importantly for the hosts, he is a worker.
A player who characterises everything the neutrals love about Eibar, there's no such thing as a lost cause where the player is concerned.
Barca need to delegate responsibility early and ensure Borja's considerable influence is kept to an absolute minimum throughout this game.
Key Battle
Inui isn't a name that will be too familiar to those outside of Eibar.
However, the Japanese has been one of the star players at Ipurua throughout this campaign.
His goals output of just three could do with being markedly better, but his interplay with his attacking colleagues has been a joy.
Slight of build, lithe of movement but with a devastating burst of speed, Inui will enjoy the battle with the more dynamic Alves.
Inui has the ability to turn the Brazilian inside out throughout this one, and Alves would do well not to lunge in—as he has on occasion this season. More unnecessary bookings are unlikely to be in Enrique's game plan.
While he is unlikely to be the match-winner, a desire to please and to entertain sits well with the locals, who have taken him to their hearts as one of their own.
Alves won't enjoy the confines of the smallest ground in La Liga, where the crowd are on top of you, and if Inui can get at him early and unsettle him, the supporters will play their part.
A decent pass-completion rate of 77.6 per cent should see the majority of his passes reach their destination. And as long as his team-mates are on his wavelength, Inui could yet have a say in where the points end up.
Odds
Eibar win: 12-1
Barcelona win: 1-5
Draw: 6-1
Pre-match odds via Odds Shark.
