Barcelona comeback to beat Eibar but Real Madrid claim La Liga title

La Liga 

FC Barcelona 4-2 Eibar

Barcelona fought back to beat Eibar 4-2 on the final day of the season, but could do nothing to stop Real Madrid winning the La Liga title.

Takashi Inui’s double put the minnows in charge at the Nou Camp, but a David Junca own goal got Barcelona back into it just after the hour mark, while Luis Suarez equalised after Lionel Messi missed a penalty.

Ander Capa was then dismissed for Eibar as he brought down Neymar in the box with 15 minutes to go, and Messi redeemed himself from the spot before sealing the win with a mesmerising solo effort in stoppage time.

The evening began with Barca still in contention for the league title, knowing a victory for them and defeat for Real would bring the trophy back to the Nou Camp for the third season in a row, but an early goal by Cristiano Ronaldo at Malaga killed off any hopes of that almost immediately before Karim Benzema then sealed their 2-0 win – to seal a first title for the Galacticos since 2012.

There was a rapturous reception at the Nou Camp for Luis Enrique before kick-off, but it was Eibar who struck first as Inui thumped home after seven minutes, after arriving onto Capa’s cross at the far post completely unmarked.

Barca should have equalised just two minutes later as Suarez, through on goal, somehow managed to fire wide of the post, and the Uruguayan also spurned another big opportunity in the half, seeing an effort from a similar position tipped wide by Yoel in the Eibar goal.

Real Madrid players celebrate their first La Liga title in 5 years.

Despite dominating possession, it was the away side who should have gone in at the break two goals ahead, but Ruben Pena somehow managed to poke his effort wide from close range after Marc-Andre ter Stegen had tipped Inui’s effort into his path right on the stroke of half-time.

With Real Madrid also ahead after 45 minutes it was looking less and less likely that Barcelona would win the title, and they continued to spurn chances in the second half as Yoel twice denied Andres Iniesta before Messi – well off of his usual best, despite scoring twice late on – somehow poked wide from six yards after racing through with Suarez.

News soon filtered through from Malaga that Real had doubled their lead, and it got worse for Barca as Eibar went two ahead. It was Inui again with a finish as brilliant as his first just after the hour, thumping home an unstoppable drive after they’d worked the ball over to him at the far post.

Junca’s unfortunate own goal, as he inadvertently turned the ball in after Neymar’s effort had struck the post, began the Barcelona comeback, though, and. after Messi had seen a penalty saved by Yoel, Suarez levelled from close range after 70 minutes following a corner.

Capa’s red then led to Messi stepping up to the spot again to make it 3-2, while the little Argentine rounded off the win with a run from deep as he beat several defenders before powering home his 37th league goal of the season.

It’s not the end of Barca’s season, though, as they prepare to face Alaves in the Copa del Rey final next weekend in an attempt to finish Luis Enrique’s tenure on a high.


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