With a Copa del Rey loss still ringing in their ears, Barcelona will look to get back to winning ways in La Liga this weekend when they host mid-table Eibar.
The league leaders will be looking to cement their grasp on the summit, but Ernesto Valverde's side will be wary of the threat their visitors offer.
Jose Luis Mendilibar's side delivered a shock 3-0 upset against Real Madrid earlier in the season and despite no wins in the division since, will still take heart into their trip to Catalania.
Will the hosts deliver an expected, routine victory to add another three points to their tally? Or is there a twist in the tale against their lowly opposition?
| Game | Barcelona v Eibar |
| Date | Sunday, January 13 |
| Time | 5:30pm GMT / 12:30pm ET |
| Stream (US) | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BeIN Sports | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be streamed via Eleven Sports 1.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| N/A | Eleven Sports 1 |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Barcelona squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ter Stegen, Cillessen |
| Defenders | Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Denis Suarez, Murillo, Brandariz. Wague |
| Midfielders | Rakitic, Busquets, Vidal, Semedo, Alena, Gonzalez, Arthur, Puig |
| Forwards | Messi, Luis Suarez, Dembele, Coutinho |
Barcelona starting XI : Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur, Coutinho; Messi, Suarez.
| Position | Eibar squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Riesgo, Dmitrovic |
| Defenders | Pena, Oliveira, Arbilla, Cote, Bigas, Angel |
| Midfielders | Diop, Escalante, Orellana, Jordan, Cucurella, Alvarez, De Blasis, Mila, Hervias |
| Forwards | Sergi Enrich, Kike, Cardona |
Eibar starting XI: Riesgo, Pena, Bigas, Arbilla, Cote, Escalante, Diop, Orellana, Cucurella, Jordan, Enrich.
Betting & Match Odds
The hosts are big favourites for this one and can be backed at 1/7 with bet365 . Eibar are priced at a distant 16/1, while a draw is 7/1.
Match Preview
As the current Liga campaign crosses into the second half of the season, reigning champions Barcelona look to be in pole position to defend their crown once again.
But, unlike their near-perfect domestic achievements in 2017-18, they have sometimes failed to recapture that spark so far.
A 2-1 loss to Levante in the Copa del Rey, even if fielding a relatively underpowered side, is still a sore result for Ernesto Valverde’s side when they are used to such success.
As such, their return to top-flight action this weekend presents an imperative need to bounce back with victory and tighten their grasp on the summit of the division.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are expected to slot straight back into a fearsome front-three after sitting out the previous defeat and they should bring some added firepower for the visit of Eibar.
Barca however will be keenly aware that they could fall into the same trap vaunted rivals Real Madrid did against the Basque minnows.
Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side turned in one of the results of the season when they battered the Champions League holders 3-0 with an emphatic display.
Though they have not won in the league since, Eibar will still take great inspiration from that famous victory – and will be hopeful of repeating such a feat against another giant of Spanish football on Sunday.
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