Excellent Eibar slip to Camp Nou reverse
The Armeros signed off for the season with a credible defeat at the hands of Barcelona
SD Eibar fell to a 4-2 reverse against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou on the final matchday of the LaLiga campaign to finish the season in 10th spot. The Armeros led 2-0 until the 62nd minute, only for the hosts to stage a stirring comeback in what was a frantic final half an hour.
José Luis Mendilibar's charges came out all guns blazing as they went in search of victory in their quest to secure an eighth-placed finish. The visitors' high press prevented Barcelona from playing the ball out from the back and this approach soon reaped its rewards. With eight minutes on the clock, Ander Capa whipped in a cross from the right and Takashi Inui produced a sublime first-time finish to put Eibar into the ascendancy.
In order to secure the league crown, Barcelona required victory here and for Real Madrid to lose, and with this in mind, the home side began to boss proceedings as they went in search of goals. Despite this, the Armeros looked very disciplined in defence, whilst seeking to break out on the counter at every opportunity.
The hosts failed to carve out many chances in the opening 45 minutes during which Yoel offered a foretaste of what became a personal mission to keep Barcelona at bay after the break.
However, it was Eibar who went on to enjoy a series of chances to have doubled their advantage. Right on the stroke of half-time, Marc-André ter Stegen parried an Inui effort and the rebound fell to the feet of Rubén Peña, who was well placed to finish but contrived to send his effort narrowly wide of the upright.
Eibar placed even greater faith in their high-pressing game after the break, as they harried the Blaugranas' backline with even greater intensity. The Armeros, who were today sporting the new green and white 2017/18 away kit, showed that they're game to take on any opponents.
Right at the start of the second period, Inui tried his luck on goal, after which Andrés Iniesta twice and Lionel Messi both sought to haul the Azulgranas level. However, both Ter Stegen and Yoel were on hand to thwart these efforts on goal.
Tonight's game certainly won't be one that Inui forgets about in a hurry. With 61 minutes played, the Japanese midfielder conjured up a thunderous left-footed strike to double the Armeros' advantage, a truly stunning finish to cap off what has been a really fine season for the midfielder.
After the visitors' second goal of the night, Barcelona poured forward and barely a minute had elapsed when they reduced the arrears. Barcelona were back in the game when Neymar's shot came back off the upright and rebounded off David Juncá and into the net.
On 68' the referee pointed to the spot after Jordi Alba fell in the area, but Yoel guessed right to keep Messi's penalty out. Six minutes later, Luis Suárez restored parity when he turned the ball home at the far post.
The game was now being played at a frenetic pace and in the 75th minute, the referee again awarded a penalty after Capa had upended Neymar, an incident which earned the Eibar man his marching orders. This time round, Messi made no mistake.
In the 92nd minute, Messi produced a moment of pure genius to round off the scoring. Yoel brilliantly prevented Suárez from scoring when clean through and the rebound fell to the Argentine, who tricked his way past several Eibar players before firing beyond the powerless Yoel.
This 4-2 scoreline saw Eibar go away empty-handed after having put in a fine performance against opposition who were playing for the LaLiga title on their own patch. Mendilibar's side bid farewell to a historic season, in which the side have achieved their highest LaLiga finish (10th) and flirted with European qualification throughout the bulk of the campaign.