SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Porto vs. Roma: 18 hrs 41 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
EL
Eibar logo
La Liga
May 19, 2019 at 3.15pm UK
 
BL
Barcelona logo

2-2

Cucurella (20'), De Blasis (45')
FT(HT: 2-2)
Messi (31', 32')

Ernesto Valverde demands more from Barcelona after Eibar draw

:Headline: Ernesto Valverde demands more from Barcelona after Eibar draw: ID:359738: from db_amp
Lionel Messi's brace was not enough to secure victory.
Valverde demands more from Barcelona after Eibar draw

Ernesto Valverde hopes Barcelona's 2-2 draw at Eibar will serve as a wake-up call ahead of the Copa del Rey final.

Lionel Messi scored a quick-fire double after Marc Cucurella's opener, but the champions were pegged back in the last game of their LaLiga campaign by Pablo De Blasis' equaliser.

Barca head to Seville to face Valencia next Saturday as they look to win a record fifth straight Copa del Rey.

And manager Valverde knows his side will have to improve if they are to complete another domestic double.

"All the matches serve (as tests), but Saturday's match will be different because the teams are different and because this was marked by the fact that Eibar didn't play for anything," Valverde said at his press conference, according to Marca.

"We tried to gauge the intensity of the game and we were good in the first half, but in the second half we couldn't overcome the pressure and we had fewer chances and we made dangerous mistakes.

"We are ready for the final and the game served us well because we were put in our place."

Lionel Messi bagged a brace for Barcelona (Ion Alcoba/AP)

Messi's brace took him to 50 goals for the campaign in all competitions.

He ended the league campaign with 36 goals and claimed the top-scorer award for a record-equalling sixth time.

He ended the game playing alongside 21-year-old Barcelona B forward Carles Perez, who came off the bench to make his first-team debut.

He said, according to Marca: "I'm so happy, it has been an unforgettable moment that I will always remember.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to get my debut this season, but the boss just said to be calm.

"I'm not used to playing on the left, but it felt good in the end."

Barcelona confirmed right-back Nelson Semedo had "been taken to hospital for routine tests after sustaining a head injury" during the game.

On his squad's other injuries, Valverde said: "We think that (Marc-Andre) Ter Stegen will be fine for the final and, while I don't know about (Philippe) Coutinho, it will be difficult for (Ousmane) Dembele to play. I don't know about Arthur."

Eibar boss Jose Luis Mendilibar, whose side finished the campaign in 12th, said: "We have got a point that we had never achieved and we have also scored two goals against them, something we did not do against Barcelona either.

"I am happy with the game, we had our chances to win, but the draw is good."

amp_article__359738 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-05-19 21:17:40:
html db last update - 2019-05-19 21:17:40 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Ernesto Valverde

Click here for more stories about Barcelona

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid23155351222950
2Atletico MadridAtletico23147238152349
3Barcelona23153564253948
4Athletic Bilbao23128336201644
5Villarreal23117546341240
6Rayo Vallecano239862724335
7Real Sociedad2394102020031
8GironaGirona2394103133-231
9Osasuna2371062832-431
10Mallorca2394102029-931
11Real BetisBetis237882731-429
12Celta Vigo2384113437-328
13Sevilla237792534-928
14Getafe236981817127
15Las PalmasLas Palmas2365122838-1023
16Espanyol2365122235-1323
17Leganes2358101932-1323
18Valencia2357112437-1322
19AlavesAlaves2356122535-1021
20Real ValladolidValladolid2343161548-3315
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .