Barcelona 3-0 Eibar: 5 Hits and Flops | LaLiga 2018-19

#2 Hit: Philippe Coutinho

Coutinho excelled against Eibar, delivering the type of performance fans have come to expect

Philippe Coutinho has been unfairly criticized since his big-money move from Liverpool this time last season. On this occasion, he excelled. His combination play with both Suarez and Messi was a joy to watch, weaving beyond Eibar defenders inside out so quickly and playing beautiful one-touch football in transition.

It was his assist which created Suarez's first of the evening. He had a penalty appeal waved away before half-time after being hauled to the ground, though referee Jesus Gil Manzano thought the Brazilian went down too easily, which was fair enough.

He combined well with Messi-Suarez during another blistering counter-attack to help set up Messi's 400th LaLiga goal. Asier Riesgo made an important point-blank save to deny Coutinho from a tight angle. An impressive performance after replacing Ousmane Dembélé in the starting eleven, which proved a justified tactical decision.