Barcelona will be looking to deliver a response when they host Eibar at the Camp Nou on Sunday following their 2-1 defeat at Levante in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie in midweek.

Several of the first team regulars were rested as the Catalans’ hunt for a fifth straight cup crown was dealt a setback.

However, the big names are set to return at the Camp Nou on Sunday as Barca aim to extend their lead at the top of the La Liga table.

BARCA TO BOUNCE BACK… AGAIN

It’s been a strange season for Barcelona. A club of their stature is always under the microscope and there’s been no shortage of issues around the team.

The Ousmane Dembele disciplinary saga earlier in the season has since been replaced by the uncertainty around Philippe Coutinho’s future while their defensive woes have been a constant theme as has Malcom’s lack of playing time.

Their form this term leaves a lot to be desired as well and defeat to Levante in midweek was the kind of slip-up that’s come to be expected of them this season.

However, they’re equally capable of dishing out a hammering – particularly when Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez work in tandem – and enjoyed 4-1, 5-0 and 4-0 wins in La Liga and Copa del Rey last month alone.

With Eibar visiting Camp Nou on Sunday, a goalfest may be on offer again. Messi and Suarez lead the league’s goal-scoring charts with 16 and 12 strikes respectively.

It’s hardly been vintage Barcelona this season but with the firepower at their disposal, they still look well on course to win the league title. Go figure.

DENIS THE MENACE

One of the positives Barcelona can take from the defeat to Levante is the performance of Denis Suarez.

The midfielder is largely responsible for making his side’s task in the second leg a whole lot easier having won a late penalty which Coutinho converted late in the game.

His overall play on the night is further evidence that Barcelona need to keep hold of him at least until the end of the season. The 25-year-old has reportedly grown frustrated at a lack of playing time and is angling for a move away from the club this month.

However, with Coutinho struggling for form and falling out of favour, an injury or two in midfield could leave the Catalans extremely light in that department.

Suarez’s performance deserves to be rewarded with a La Liga start and Eibar’s visit presents Ernesto Valverde with the perfect opportunity to afford him one in his efforts to keep him at the club.

BARCA LOVE PLAYING EIBAR

Why are Barca so heavily tipped to win this one and comfortably at that? Well, Eibar’s trips to the Camp Nou since their first promotion in 2014 have ended in 3-0, 3-1, 4-2 and 6-1 defeats.

The fact that they scored in three of those encounters may be a minor source of encouragement but their tally of five away goals this season is the lowest in the division.

Even though the Basque outfit beat Real Madrid recently, they’ve never defeated Barcelona, losing all eight meetings by at least two goals.

Meanwhile, Messi particularly enjoys his encounters with Eibar. Having played the La Liga minnows seven times, the Argentine has bagged 12 goals and goes into this fixture in good goal-scoring form.