Eibar vs Barcelona: 5 key Talking Points

#2 Barcelona managed to grind out a result

Alba made the points safe right at the end.

Barcelona were far from their best at Eibar as they faced stiff opposition from the Spanish side, who refused to succumb to the Barcelona style of play. If anything, the 7th placed side in the league, didn't allow the leaders to apply themselves on the pitch and fought them for every inch of it.

In the last few weeks, the form of the champions has dipped with their main man failing to get on the score sheet, but even in these matches, the game-management displayed by Ernesto Valverde's side will please the coach a great deal.

Some assistance from the referee in sending off Orellana - a second yellow for whacking the ball away with his hand after the game had stopped for a foul - certainly helped Barcelona. The referee was quick to brandish a yellow card for the Chilean and might have held off in hindsight.

It was an uphill task for Eibar after the sending off. The Catalans played within themselves, never let their opponents back in the game and even added a late second to seal the result.