Messi hits double as Barcelona ease past Eibar

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar reached the collective 100 goal mark for the season with Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Eibar in La Liga.

Neymar missed out on the clash through suspension, with Munir El Haddadi taking the Brazilian’s place in the starting line-up. But Messi bagged a brace, with Suarez also finding the net late in the contest to secure the three points with ease.

The result puts Barcelona 11 points clear at the top of the Liga table, with Atletico Madrid set to face Valencia later this evening. The title race in Spain might already be something of a foregone conclusion.

Enrique rotated his squad for the fixture, with Arda Turan, Dani Alves, Jordi Alba and Munir all coming into the team. It didn’t make much difference to the standard of Barca’s performance, with the Catalans in control for its entirety.

The former Liverpool striker is in the form of his life at the moment, scoring 41 goals in just 40 appearance for club and country this season. If he can keep up that vein of success, Luis Suarez must surely be considered a frontrunner for next year’s Ballon d’Or. Not even Lionel Messi can stick with those kind of numbers.

As if being the best forward in the world wasn’t enough for Lionel Messi, he now seems intent on becoming the best midfielder player as well. He might already be there. The Argentine played most of the match in the space between Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez, dropping deep to pick up the ball and spray the passes. He was the difference-maker, but not in the way he normally is. This was an outstanding attacking midfield display.

Eibar - Riesgo 6, Capa 5, Pantic 5, Ramis 6, Junca 7, Escalante 6, Garcia 5, Gonzalez 5, Radosevic 6, Baston 5, Enrich 6. Subs - Inui 5, Hajrovic 4, Saul 5.

Barcelona - Bravo 5, Alves 6, Pique 6, Mascherano 5, Alba 6, Busquets 7, Rakitic 6, Turan 7, Messi 9, Munir 7, Suarez 8. Subs - Vermaelen 5, Bartra 5, Roberto 5.

7’ GOAL! Eibar 0 Barcelona 1: There's the breakthrough and it has come for the away side! Suarez got to the byline, squared for Munir who had the simple task of finishing from four yards out.

29’ SHOULD THAT HAVE BEEN A PENALTY? Pantic stuck out an arm as a cross from the left side came in, blocking the ball. The officials missed, but what would have happened if they had seen it?

37’ ESCALANTE SHOULD HAVE HIT THE TARGET! The Eibar player found himself unmarked at the far post, but he could only put his side-foot volley wide. Close.

41’ ALMOST AN OWN GOAL! An Eibar cross into the six yard box picks up a nasty deflection off Busquets and only just flashes past the far post. Bravo was beaten by that!

42’ GOAL! Eibar 0 Barcelona 2: That's an astonishing goal by the best player in the world! Messi went all the way, past three Eiba players before finishing into the bottom corner of the net.

52’ THAT WAS A CLOSE ONE! Eibar get caught with a very high line, with Messi threading through the pass for Suarez in behind. The flag was up on the far side, but there wasn't much in it!

74’ PENALTY KICK TO BARCELONA! The away side will have the chance to finish this game from the spot after a handball inside the area to stop Messi.

75’ GOAL! Eibar 0 Barcelona 3: And that should be that. Messi chips the Panenka down the centre of the net and Riesgo falls for it. This game is now beyond doubt. Barcelona pick up the three points.

87’ GOAL! Eibar 0 Barcelona 4: That was the most Suarez goal ever. He nutmegged his marker, wrestled another player, then smashes a finish past Riesgo.

Messi, Neymar and Suárez have now scored a combined 100 goals in all competitions this season.

Suárez has provided assists in four of his last six La Liga games.