LaLiga leaders Barcelona warmed up for their Champions League clash against Chelsea with a 2-0 win at Eibar, who finished with 10 men and manager Jose Luis Mendilibar sent to the stands.
Luis Suarez put the visitors in front after 16 minutes, latching onto a sweeping pass from Lionel Messi, before Eibar winger Fabian Orellana hit the crossbar.
The Chilean was, though, sent off on 66 minutes for punching the ball away, before Mendilibar, taking charge of his 100th LaLiga game with Eibar, was dismissed for protesting to the fourth official and Jordi Alba added Barcelona’s late second.
Tweet of the match
Star man – Luis Suarez
A cool finish from the Uruguay forward opened the scoring early in the first half and Suarez was a thorn in the side of the Eibar defence all match long.
Moment of the match
In a match of few clear-cut chances, Barcelona’s goal in the 16th minute came out of the top drawer. Lionel Messi picked the ball up just inside the Eibar half before playing a sweeping, angled pass ahead of the high defensive line, which fell to Suarez on the right and he rounded the keeper to slot into the net.
Stat attack
Jose Luis Mendilibar marked his 100th LaLiga game as Eibar manager by being sent to the stands, while winger Fabian Orellana collected his third red card against Barcelona, who are now unbeaten in 31 LaLiga matches.
Player ratings
Eibar: Marko Dmitrovic 7 (out of 10), Ruben Pena 6, Ivan Ramis 6, Anaitz Arbilla 6, Jose 6, Dani Garcia 6, Pape Diop 6, Fabian Orellana 5, Joan Jordan 6, Takashi Inui 6, Enrique Kike 6. Substitutes: David Lomban (for Ramis, 46) 6, Gonzalo Escalante (for Diop) 6, Charles (for Jordan, 83) 6.
Barcelona: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 7 (out of 10), Sergi Roberto 6, Gerard Pique 6, Samuel Umtiti 6, Jordi Alba 7, Sergio Busquets 6, Ivan Rakitic 6, Andres Iniesta 6, Paulinho 6, Lionel Messi 7, Luis Suarez 8. Substitutes: Philippe Coutinho (for Iniesta) 6, Aleix Vidal (for Paulinho, 74) 6, Nelson Semedo (for Sergi Roberto, 89) 6.
Who’s up next?
Celta Vigo v Eibar (LaLiga, February 24)
Chelsea v Barcelona (Champions League, February 20)
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