Will Messi and Suarez be enough?

Tom Smith 6 years ago 13.8k
Messi and Suarez will be without Dembele against Eibar. EFE

With Ousmane Dembele sidelined with a hamstring injury, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will take centre stage against Eibar to try and continue Barcelona's perfect start to the La Liga campaign.

After Dembele picked up a hamstring injury that could see him sidelined for a number of months, the newly formed 'MSD' will become a lonely 'MS' for the near future.

However, if Ernesto Valverde is struggling for confidence, he can settle his nerves by looking at the statistics recorded by his No 9 and 10.

Since Eibar's promotion to La Liga in 2014/15, Messi has scored eight times in five games and Suarez has netted six in five appearances against José Luis Mendilibar's men.

In the most recent game between the two clubs, played on the final day of last season, Messi bagged a brace and Suarez scored one, but it was not enough to snatch the league title away from Real Madrid.

Dembele's injury will see Gerard Deulofeu take his place, and the winger will be eager to impress with his extended stint in the starting XI.

Mentioned in the news story

O. Dembélé
G. Deulofeu
L. Messi
Luis Suárez
Barcelona