Off the wire
• ATP Challenger Tour event kicks off in China  • Xinhua Insight: The West needs to discard 10 biases against China (2)  • Air pollution hits 180 Chinese cities  • Bryan brothers spoil Hewitt comeback as USA takes 2-1 lead in Davis Cup tie  • Xinhua Insight: The West needs to discard 10 biases against China (1)  • Guangxi police intercept wild animal smugglers in border cities  • China on course for 8th straight men's table tenni team title  • Interview: FAO cheif lauds cooperation with China on food security, poverty reduction  • U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly feels unwell after almost one year in space  • Armless Indian cricketer plays in national level  
You are here: 　 Home

No Neymar as Barca travel to rain Eibar

Xinhua, March 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

FC Barcelona coach Luis Enrique will make at least one change as his side look to maintain its record beating run of games without defeat away to Eibar on Sunday afternoon.

Barca visit the tiny Ipurua Stadium, which has a capacity of just over 5,000 without Brazilian striker, Neymar, who is suspended after completing a cycle of bookings during Barca's 5-1 win away to Rayo Vallecano on Thursday night.

Luis Enrique has options as he looks to replace Neymar alongside Leo Messi and Luis Suarez, with Arda Turan, who scored his first league goal for the club against Rayo, an option, although it looks as if Munir will finally get the nod.

Suarez goes into the game without a goal in his last three matches, but he has netted 25 league goals this season and hit the post three times in recent games. Messi on the other hand scored a hat-trick in Vallecas and has scored 20 goals in all competitions since the turn of the year.

Barca will go into their game knowing what Real Madrid have done in their game against Celta Vigo, although with the Whites starting the weekend 12 points behind them. It seems obvious Zinedine Zidane's side have no options of winning the league and that Barca's only rivals are Atletico Madrid, who play away to Valencia when Barca's game finishes.

Eibar receive Barcelona in eighth place in the table and with 36 points, meaning they are virtually safe from relegation, but also in danger of seeing any chance of playing in Europe next season escape them as they are five points behind Athletic Club Bilbao, who in seventh.

Eibar coach Jose Luis Mendilibar has commented that a win for his side, which has the smallest budget in the BBVA Primera Liga would be "great for football," and his side will look to take advantage of what are likely to be difficult conditions on their small pitch after a weekend where heavy rain and strong winds are forecast and could make life complicated for Barca's star players. Endit