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[monks data]
Eibar logo
La Liga
Mar 14, 2015 at 5pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-1)
Messi (31' pen., 55')

Preview: Eibar vs. Barcelona

Sports Mole previews the match between La Liga leaders Barcelona and Eibar.

Barcelona will be looking to consolidate their place at the top of La Liga when they travel in Eibar in the Spanish top flight this weekend.

Jose Enrique's men climbed back into top spot following an emphatic 6-1 win over Rayo Vallecano last Sunday, capitalising on Real Madrid's surprise defeat the day before.

With El Clasico just around the corner, a win this weekend would help the Catalan side keep Real, who are just a point adrift, behind them.

This match does come just a few days before the second leg of Barcelona's Champions League match against Manchester City, with a place in the quarter-finals of the competition up for grabs, so some players could be rested against a side that have not won in their last seven.

Neymar was suspended for the clash against Rayo, so could come in for the visitors, potentially allowing Luis Suarez or Pedro to be rested, but Jordi Alba and Dani Alves will both miss out after picking up a fifth yellow and a red card respectively at Camp Nou last weekend.

Midfielder Sergio Busquets will miss out though as he continues to battle a knee injury which could keep him out of the clash with Real Madrid later this month.

Meanwhile, Eibar will be hoping to end a run of seven straight defeats in the league, a run which has left them just three points clear of the relegation zone.

This weekend's hosts threw away a lead against Levante last weekend, suffering a 2-1 defeat, but Saul Berjon's goal did end their four-match goal drought.

Dani Garcia will not be available in midfield as he was sent off late on last time, meaning that he is suspended, while Didac Vila remains a doubt with a muscle strain that has kept him out for the last month.

Eibar will also be without Angel, as he underwent emergency appendix surgery on Saturday after dropping out of the defeat to Levante, ruling him out for the next month.

When Barcelona hosted Eibar earlier in the season, they secured a 3-0 win at Camp Nou.

Eibar:

Form in La Liga: LLLLLL
Form in all competitions: LLLLLL

Possible starting lineup: Jaime, Boveda, Ekiza, Lillo, Navas, Capa, Errasti, Manu, Berjon, Nieto, Lekic

Barcelona:

Form in La Liga: WWWLWW
Form in all competitions: WLWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Bravo, Pique, Adriano, Bartra, Mathieu, Rakitic, Iniesta, Mascherano, Pedro, Neymar, Messi

Sports Mole says: 0-3


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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves134181422-813
17Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
20Valencia11146817-97


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