Barcelona 1-1 Eibar: results, summary and goals

Barça 1-1 Eibar: match report

Barcelona suffered in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi as they drew 1-1 at home to struggling Eibar in LaLiga on Tuesday after Martin Braithwaite missed a penalty for the Catalans.

Eibar, who went into the game sitting one place above the relegation zone, took a shock lead in the 57th minute through striker Kike Garcia before Barca substitute Ousmane Dembélé levelled for 10 minutes later.

Messi had returned to Barcelona from Argentina earlier on Tuesday but watched from the stands as he is still recovering from an ankle problem and, while his side played well without him, they lacked the cutting edge he so often provides.

Braithwaite missed the target from the spot in the first half then had a goal correctly ruled offside by VAR while the Dane also missed a chance to grab the winner from point-blank range when the ball bounced off his chest on the rebound and squirmed wide. (Richard Martin reporting)

An important point won for Eibar, which moves them up to 14th for the time being.

Their goalscorer Kike García after the final whistle  "How could you not miss Messi? He's the best player of all time!

"He always scores a hat-trick against us so clearly they wouldn't be as good without him."

A very disappointing night from Barça's point of view.

Seven points adrift of leaders Atleti, which could grow to 13 if Simeone's troops win their two games in hand.

Araujo is the one rolled out in front of the TV camera. Why does it only appear to be after a positive result that Barça's more experienced players face the media???

FULL-TIME

Peep, peep, peeeeeep! That's it all over.

Cubero replaces Diop as the clock ticks on.

CLOSE!! Super speed from Dembélé on the right, and his low ball in is met near the edge of the Eibar area by Trincao.

The youngster dribbles past one, then two, then three and four defenders before cutting a shot back across goal... then watches as it trundles agonisingly just wide.

That would have been tasty!

Four added minutes

Ricard Puig is getting a couple of minutes to try and help save this. He's on for Pedri.

Griezmann has a chance to shoot early from a great position but dallies and the opportunity is gone. Much more expected from the Frenchman.

I concur, Dermot.

CHANCES!! Coutinho in the centre picked out by Braithwaite but the Brazilian's effort is blocked close to goal.

Coutinho then turns provider for Pedri who fires over.

It's been better from the hosts in this final half-hour but they're still chasing a goal.

Pedro reminds us that Busquets is now fourth in the all-time LaLiga appearance list for Barça.

Recio comes on and immediately fouls a De Jong in full flow. He's the second name into the book.

Barça: Busquets on for Lenglet

Eibar: Recio on for Kadzior

Another corner for the home side but it's way, way too long and forces Trincao to chase after it.

More changes coming up.

Corner from Barça and the defenders are up to cause some bother. Lenglet is the one who rises highest but can't keep his effort down.

We're about to enter the final 10 minutes. Can someone find a winner? Barça certainly look the more likely right now.

It's the first yellow of the game and it's deserved.

Alvarez is all over the back of Pedri as he looks to burst free through the middle of the park.

Mendilibar with the changes:

Muto on for Garcia, and Oliveira for Burgos

CLOSE!! A dangerous cross from Dembélé on the right is reached with a low punch by Dmitrovic just ahead of the closing Braithwaite.

The punch deflects straight off the striker and almost into the net. Relief for the keeper.

It's Dembélé, who else!?

A delicious low cross from the left by Firpo looks to have escaped everyone but the French winger was coming in at the back post and fires a first-time drive home. Very, very nice!

Coutinho on for Pjanic, and Trincao on for Griezmann

After winning that last ball back, Eibar his on the counter quickly and win a corner after a deflected shot from distance. Nothing comes of it.

Looks like some changes to personnel happening.

Eibar looking generally composed right now, although one moment of sloppiness in the middle of the park saw Griezmann break forward flanked by four blaugrana shirts.

The Frenchman's choice of pass killed any smell of danger.

Slight pleasure

The goal in four frames

Almost immediately after Barça's returning star fluffed his chance, Eibar's Kike García shows him how it's done. Breaking free, after stealing the ball off Araujo's toe, and facing up Ter Stegen the striker slides it home.

SAVE!!! Dembélé is sent through one-on-one with Dmitrovic from a lovely pass from Pedri.

He slams it straight at the keeper. That feels familiar.

Kadzior has a chance to create havoc in the Barça area from a free-kick wide on the right. He sends in a floaty ball, which swings in and is easily caught by Ter Stegen. Zero havoc caused.

CLOSE!! Pjanic this time. It's the recently-introduced French winger causing problems again and as the pops out to the edge of the box, his supporting midfielder meets it with a first-time volley. Again just wide, with Dmitrovic scrambling.

CHANCE!! Dembélé cuts in from the right, steps inside two defenders and tried to curl one into the far post. Just wide.

A loose pass from Lenglet is picked up in midfield and immediately sent into the feet of Kadzior. The Polish forward tries from the edge of the area but a block takes the ball safely back to Ter Stegen.

Barça have the ball but are being pressed back into their own third, right back into their penalty area by a hoard of white shirts.

A clearance to escape sees the flag go up against Braithwaite. Intent shown from the viistors.

Second half is go

Ousmane Dembélé is back! And he replaces Dest.

So what changes are we likely to see from Koeman and Mendilibar?

We're about to find out...and there's a change from the Dutchman at the break.

Messi-dependencia?

The Argentine is wrapped up well in the cold stands watching this game and will have been disappointed with the lack of goal threat thus far.

This was rather nice

First-half review

The story of that first 45 is clearly going to be focused on the missed penalty (given by VAR) from Martin Braithwaite and the goal that was ruled out by VAR for offside.

But other than a half chance for Griezmann at the edge of the area, Barça haven't done a lot to deserve a lead against this hard-working Eibar side.

And the visitors have offered enough moments of quality to suggest they can pick up something tonight. Inui is one in particular that has taken the game to the hosts when given the chance.

HALF-TIME

Peeeep!

Indeed, Alberola Rojas blows his whistle and sends the teams to the changing rooms.

Braithwaite back covering in his own half (that is a sign in itself) and he's brought down with a thump.

That could be that for the first period of play.

The sixth corner almost opens up a great chance. The flick-on falls into space in front of Ter Stegen but there are no white shirts close enough to react.

There will be four minutes added on.

As we edge towards half-time, Eibar win another corner, their fifth of the game.

Decent delivery, outswinging and the headed effort is deflected wide. Another corner.

Griezmann gets a left-footed strike away on the turn, but it drifts across goal and wide as Dmitrovic watches it closely.

Neat exchange between several Eibar players down the left but it comes to nothing. They'll be looking to keep the ball as far away from their own goal as possible when they can.

Calls for a foul on Inui in the Barça area are enough for the ref to check with VAR. Decision...play on!

How long?

SAVE! Ter Stegen called into action but despite the dead-ball power behind Kadzior's free-kick it's nothing too difficult to handle.

The German does though choose to block rather than catch the strike.

Corner from Barça met by the head of Mingueza but it doesn't trouble the goal. As Eibar look to head up field De Jong is incensed to be ajudged to have fouled his opponent.

Chance from a free-kick for the visitors.

Griezmann clattered in the middle of the park and from the free-kick the hosts almost create a tap-in for Braitwaite.

The ball in from the left by Pedri is almost perfect but just out of reach.

Inui looking dangerous when he gets possession down the left. It's a cracking battle between him and the rapid Dest.

One of those nights?

No goals with a third of the game gone.

NO GOAL!!

Firpo's delivery was perfect, and the finish very composed, but it's the right decision.

Wait a minute! VAR may have another say.

First glance at this suggested he may have had a toe in advance of the final defender. Let's see...

Pjanic again with the delivery. Araujo times his run perfectly and gets a header on target, although comfortably dealt with by Dmitrovic.

Griezmann does brilliantly to win the ball back deep on the right wing. His cross is less impressive but the deflection falls back to a home shirt and a period of controlled possession follows.

From that a push forward wins them a corner.

Dest tries a clever turn under pressure, which doesn't come off. Inui steals the ball and delivers a decent cross from the left but it's well cleared.

Some good pressure in the final third from Eibar, seeing them win a couple of corners and force some desperate clearances from the blaugrana defenders.

That penalty miss will have certainly given them a boost.

Ouchie! Firpo hard in there. Free kick and a chance to loft it in.

As Mister Chip reminds us, Barça have now missed three of their last four penalties (Griezmann, Messi and the most recent with Braithwaite).

Their worst run from the spot since early 2016.

Eibar get their first sniff but the effort from distance is deflected and is easy for Ter Stegen to gather.

MISSED PENALTY!

Martin Braithwaite steps up and slides the ball wide of the left post. Let off for EIbar.

VAR indeed has had a look, then our referee Javier Alberola Rojas trotts over to see the replay for himself.

It's a penalty for a kick on Araujo as the players stretched for the ball.

Pjanic whips the corner in and there are plenty bodies going after it. Eibar appear to have cleared it but Araujo is on the ground and there may be more to it...

First decent attack sees Junior nip in on the left and fire goalwards. His efforts see him win a corner...

Pjanic and Griezmann with some nice interplay but the Bosnian is muscled off the ball and the visitors look at the options.

A hopefull hit forward sees a quick turnover once again.

Eibar get things going and are immediately pushed back into their own half as Barça win back possession and get their early touches in.

And we're off!

The teams are ready...

Dembélé in wait

As well as Coutinho on the bench, we may also see the return of the attacking Frenchman that joined at the same time.

A reminder of the line-ups

The teams are heading down the tunnel and  we're just a few minutes away from kick-off.

Warming up nicely

It's not the same with that empty stadium, but fingers are crossed that we won't have to wait too long into the new year before some fans return.

Eibar's hopes

The away form from the Basques is what they can point to as a reason to be positive. They've only lost one game on their travels in the league where unfancied and have scored the first goal in seven of their eight trips.

Their main threat is likely to be Kike Garcia who is not fazed by the bigger teams, with goals against three of the current top six already in the bag this season.

Injuries and suspensions

A reminder that the following players were ruled out of contention for this game:

Barça: Alba, Pique, Fati, Messi, Roberto

Eibar: Gil, Arbilla, Correa, Rodrigues, Valdes Díaz

Eibar Christmas fun

Muto is on the bench tonight but from our sources deep in the Eibar camp, we've been assured that this has nothing to do with his inability to buy his own shirt in the club store.

Barça vs Eibar: head-to-head

As you may have expected, the hosts have more than the edge when it comes to the games between the two sides.

In the match back in February, Barça ran out 5-0 winners in tonight's venue and there are some suggesting that we may see something similar in this fixture. I'm expecting the visitors to make a better showing.

(h/t to the team at SofaScore for the stats)

Barça vs Eibar: head-to-head

As you may have expected, the hosts have more than the edge when it comes to the games between the two sides.

In the match back in February, Barça ran out 5-0 winners in tonight's venue and there are some suggesting that we may see something similar in this fixture. I'm expecting the visitors to make a better showing.

(h/t to the team at SofaScore for the stats)

A farewell to 2020

Check out the Barcelona players making their way into the stadium ahead of the game.

Barça team review

Koeman's hand was forced somewhat but the big shout is that Coutinho has been left out from the starting line-up.

A midfield of De Jong, Pjanic and Pedri will support Griezmann and Braithwaite up top.

Eibar XI: Dmitrovic, Burgos, Bigas, Sergio, Pape Diop, Expósito, Soares, Inui, Kike, Kadzior, Pozo

Barça XI: Ter Stegen; Dest, Mingueza, Araujo, Lenglet, Junior; De Jong, Pjanic, Pedri; Griezmann, Braithwaite

And it looks like we have some team news coming in. First up the home side...

Basque fighting spirit required

Eibar currently sit 17th in the table picking up just 15 points from their opening 15 league games. Los Armeros can forget tonight that they have the worst home record in the competition and instead focus on a very respectable return on the road, only bettered by five other sides.

Away at the Camp Nou is not one of those they would expect to take anything from, but a Messi-less Barça may give them some extra hope.

Barça rising

It has been far from the perfect start to the 2020/21 season for the Catalan giants - both on and off the pitch - but form has improved and results with it. Victory this evening will put them five points behind leaders Atlético Madrid, with the capital side still having two games in hand.

They know that they have little room for any more slip ups this season.

Barça in festive cheer

The hosts come into this game in positive mood. They have picked up 10 points from the last 12 available (a draw against Valencia the only blip) and in their most recent fixture came away with a 3-0 win over Valladolid in arguably their best performance of the season.

Ronald Koeman will be forced again into some key changes, but the revised formation last time out suggests the local fans - watching from afar, of course - will be able to celebrate once again.

Barcelona vs Eibar live: welcome

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of tonight's LaLiga Santander offering from the Camp Nou.

Kick off is at 19:15 local time (CET) but prior to that I'll be bringing you up to date with what's been going on at both clubs recently, what this game means, plus team news as it breaks.