Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (L) scored a hat trick in the team's record-breaking 5-1 demolition of Rayo Vallecano. (Photo : Getty Images)
Reeling squad SD Eibar (10-11-6, 36 points) is expected to continue with their current struggles even as they host invincible defending champions FC Barcelona (22-2-3, 69 points) at their home field of Estadio Municipal de Ipura on March 6th, Sunday for a 2015-2016 La Liga season game.
Eibar suffered their third straight loss, sixth in the team's last seven outings, a 0-1 decision against fifth-running Sevilla FC at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on Wednesday as they dropped to eighth place in the league table, as per ESPN.
Spanish forward Fernando Llorente scored the lone goal of the match right at the 11th minute for the Sevillistas to hand José Luis Mendilibar's boys another loss in a so far mercurial season.
Llorente had two more chances of adding to the score before the halftime break, but Los Armeros were able to fend off the hosts' attacks.
Eibar created their own chances in the first half, though, striker Borja Baston shot a header that went directly onto Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico. Midfielder Gonzalo Escalante was able to secure the rebound and shot the ball again from just outside the penalty area, but Rico saved it again.
Meanwhile, Barcelona broke arch-rival Real Madrid's 28-year-old consecutive unbeaten games in all competitions record by flattening Rayo Vallecano, 5-1, on the road at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas on Thursday, as reported by SkySports.
No less than five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi led the demolition job, their 35th straight undefeated match, with a hat trick at the 23rd, 53rd, and 72nd minutes, en route to the lopsided victory. It was also a personal record for Messi himself as the goals were his 303rd, 304th, and 305th with Barça.
Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring for Luis Enrique's squad at the 22nd while newcomer Arda Turan provided the Blaugrana's fifth goal four minutes before the full time whistle.
The predicted result is a 4-0 romp for Barcelona. Enrique and his squad will extend their domestic winning streak to 21 games and the undefeated record to 36 matches.
Eibar starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Riesgo; Capa, Echaide, Ramis, Junca; Escalante, Carrillo, Radosevic, Gonzalez; Borja, Enrich
Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Bravo; Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez, Neymar
