Barcelona Eyes Another Record Breaking Win At Eibar
Barcelona set a new Spanish record of going 35 matches unbeaten on Thursday with their win over Rayo Vallecano. Luis Enrique’s team has now gone 35 games undefeated, a streak that’s already seen them better a La Liga record of 34 matches unbeaten set by Leo Beenhakker’s Real Madrid team in the 1989-90 season.
Barça’s undefeated streak stretches all the way back to October and a 2-1 loss to Sevilla. In the five months since then, Barcelona has won 29 and drawn six. The Catalan outfit has also scored 107 goals while conceding just 20.
Next up for Barcelona is a trip to the Estadio Municipal de Ipurua to face Eibar on Sunday. A win or a draw there would see Messi, Neymar, Suarez and company equal the record of 36 games undefeated set by Arrigo Sacchi’s great AC Milan in the 1990-91 season. Although, even that is not yet equal to the record of 40 games undefeated set by Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest side between 1977 and 1978. Or, more recently, the record of 43 games undefeated set by Antonio Conte’s Juventus between 2011 and 2013.
Barça’s deadly attacking trio of Neymar, Suarez and Messi won’t be fully intact for Sunday’s match: Neymar will be serving out a one game suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Rayo. There is good news, however, about Ivan Rakitic. The Croatian midfielder suffered a bruised foot against Rayo, but is nonetheless expected to recover in time for Sunday’s clash.
Barcelona is currently on a 10 game winning streak and are sitting at the top of the La Liga table, eight points clear of second-place Atletico Madrid. They are heavy favorites on Sunday as they face an Eibar side that’s lost its last three matches and is hovering in eighth place, a few points outside the European places.
Catch Barcelona vs. Eibar Sunday, March 6 at 10:00am ET on BeINSports.