Eibar 0–1 FC Barcelona: Griezmann helps Barça to round off season with a win

Barça came flying out of the blocks at Ipurua and were on the attack within the first 15 seconds. A similar raid down the left side in the second minute certainly signalled the visitors intent and it would be almost three minutes into the game before Neto in the Barça goal had his first touch.

With little riding on the outcome of the match, Barça’s intensity in the early stages was a real statement, though it would be the Basques who came closest to opening the scoring in the fifth minute, a last-ditch challenge sending the ball out for a corner kick.

Shadows

Each time Eibar managed to get out of their half they were soon pegged back, with the Catalans having them chase shadows for the majority of the opening quarter hour. The first defensive mistake from Barça came in the 16th minute, and only Óscar Mingueza’s outstretched boot stopped Sergi Enrich from finding the net.

From that point, the rest of the first half developed into a game of cat and mouse, with both sides seeking to move the ball into the wide areas at every opportunity. A great full-length save from Neto on 30 minutes kept the scores goalless, whilst Antoine Griezmann’s inventiveness a the other end almost carved out an opportunity for countryman, Ousmane Dembélé.

Equality

Barça’s short, sharp passing game was in contrast to Eibar’s counter attacking philosophy, and the beginning of the second 45 was more equal with half chances at both ends. Ilaix Moriba’s season ended prematurely when he was injured just after the break, Ronald Koeman replacing the youngster with Riqui Puig.

Olivera’s clearance on 66 stopped a good Barça move, and Dembélé’s wonderful slaloming run shortly after deserved a goal as the visitors began to knock on the door once more. The Frenchman was again in the thick of the action with 10 minutes to play as his persistence set up a chance for Griezmann to acrobatically fire Barça into the lead.

The hosts almost drew level late on thanks to a deflected drive from Takashi Inui which cannoned off the crossbar with Neto beaten. Barça's win means that Eibar have still never beaten them, and the three points will ensure that the Catalans end the season by finishing in third place.