Lionel Messi said enough. After no goals in four games he hit four goals in one game, and put Eibar to the sword, the very hilt of it. It had been a tough week at Barcelona but this was the sweetener.
Eibar started well and Sergi Enrich had a goal disallowed for offside. Barca fans chanted ‘Bartomeu out’ and waved white handkerchiefs after ‘Barcagate’. It was a rocky opening, but Messi made it all go away.
Ending his personal drought, the worst he has suffered since the 13-14 season, he brilliantly nutmegged Anaitz Arbilla and lofted home effortlessly.
Then he added another, cutting through the defence like a hot knife through butter and finishing across Dmitrovic.
The third did not take long to follow, a simple finish after the ball bounced up to him. He had tried to set up Antoine Griezmann but the Frenchman was tackled. The ball fell back into Messi’s path and he dispatched it.
Sergio Busquets could have netted before half-time too but missed a sitter, with Dmitrovic denying him.
Setien looked ahead to a huge week, Napoli away and the Clasico in Madrid, taking off Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Antoine Griezmann. The latter was replaced by emergency signing Martin Braithwaite.
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The Danish forward made an excellent 20-minute cameo debut, setting up Messi’s fourth with a low pass and then forcing the fifth, for Arthur when his shot was parried.