Barca held by Eibar at home as injured Messi watches on
Barcelona suffered in the lack of the injured Lionel Messi because they drew 1-1 at home to struggling Eibar found in La Liga on Tuesday after Martin Braithwaite missed a good penalty for the Catalans.
Eibar, who went into the game sitting a single place over the relegation area, took a shock business lead in the 57th minute when striker Kike Garcia pounced on a good glaring defensive error from Barca defender Ronald Araujo.
Barca alternative Ousmane Dembele levelled 10 minutes later, firing into the far corner with a first-time finish after a cut-returning from Junior Firpo to complete an outstanding team move.
Messi returned to Barcelona from Argentina previously Tuesday but watched from the stands as being he is still dealing with an ankle problem and, while his aspect played very well without him, they lacked the leading edge he frequently provides.
Braithwaite missed the mark from the spot in the first 50 percent then had an objective ruled offside by VAR while the Dane also didn't grab the winner from point-blank range when the ball bounced off his upper body on the rebound and squirmed huge.
The draw designed Barca possess dropped nine out of 27 possible points in the home this year and left them sixth in the standings upon 25 points from 15 games, seven at the rear of Liga leaders Atletico Madrid who've two games at hand.
Barca had outclassed Real Valladolid to win 3-0 on the highway in their last game before the Holiday break and, even without Messi, they made a bright start Tuesday, earning a penalty because of a VAR analysis for a foul on Araujo.
Messi would as a rule have stepped up so Braithwaite volunteered instead and fired wide, among the many chances to have the business lead which Barca wasted found in the first half.
The Catalans continued to squander clear opportunities following the break as Dembele was thwarted from close selection by Eibar keeper Marko Dmitrovic and Frenkie de Jong failed to get enough vitality on his shot when he caught sight of goal.
From looking in charge, Barca were suddenly behind due to a lack of focus from Uruguayan defender Araujo as he was mugged around the halfway line by Garcia, who raced towards goal and kept his cool to beat keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
The 21-year-old Araujo took full responsibility for his error. "It's a blunder from me, one I can't afford to create," he informed reporters. It was too little focus from me and they are mistakes we can not afford to make.
"Today it was my personal mistake, I'm old a sufficient amount of to know what size a responsibility it is to play for Barcelona.
"It's a shame for all of us we weren't in a position to receive the three factors as we needed and wanted them."
