Lionel Messi watched from the sidelines as Barcelona dropped more points against lowly Eibar in LaLiga and Junior Firpo blamed the team s lack of cutting edge.
Barca have fallen seven points off the pace set by rivals Atletico Madrid and defending champions Real Madrid atop LaLiga, following Tuesday s 1-1 draw.
Ronald Koeman s Barca were held to back-to-back draws at Camp Nou after Eibar striker Kike capitalised on Ronald Araujo s error before substitute Ousmane Dembele scored an equaliser for the hosts.
With superstar captain Messi absent due to an ankle injury, Martin Braithwaite missed a penalty as Barca fired in 16 shots, including five on target, against the LaLiga strugglers.
Goalscorer Dembele was guilty of hitting a tame shot when clean through on goal, while Braithwaite and substitute Francisco Trincao spurned chances to net a late winner.
Antoine Griezmann was the only player in Barca s starting line-up with more than two league goals in 2020-21 but the recalled forward was unable to add to his three goals from 14 outings.
We need a thousand chances to score, Barca defender Junior said via Marca.
They [Eibar] had one clear chance and scored.
Junior added: It s the trend of the season.
The games are tough and it s all uphill.
So close
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
However, the 24-year-old left-back Junior was more than happy with his own performance after combining with Pedri to set up Dembele for Barca s 67th-minute leveller.
Junior made his first league start of the season against Eibar in relief of veteran full-back Jordi Alba.
I felt good, Firpo said. It s noticeable when you don t play so often, but I always try to train to the fullest.
When I get a chance I try to take advantage of it.
Barcelona travel to face bottom side Huesca in their first match of 2021 on January 3.
