Xavi Hernandez, Neymar and Lionel Messi scored as Barcelona eventually dispatched Eibar at Camp Nou.
The visitors were competitive until Xavi opened the scoring and should have been in front but eventually had no answer to Barca’s superior weaponry, even if they matched their effort for most of the game.
Eibar had two fantastic first half chances, Ander Capa missing when it was easier to score and Saul Berjon drawing a save from Claudio Bravo.
But it was Barca who opened the scoring through Xavi, having to wait an hour for their most fluid piece of play to arrive.
Xavi found Messi, continued his run, unmarked, and was found by Messi, lifting the ball over Irueta.
Neymar made it two 10 minutes later, thumping a volley past Irueta, meeting a Dani Alves cross that for once found a Barca player.
Messi got his customary goal shortly after, combining with Neymar and sending an accurate shot in off the far post.
Eibar made three changes from the side that drew with Levante and went with a new system, fielding three centre-backs. Barca meanwhile paired Gerard Pique and Jeremy Mathieu in defence and had Messi and Neymar as part of their front three.
Neymar, Pedro Rodriguez and Messi combined to put Messi in a decent position but light blue shirts converged to snuff out the chance. Messi then had a shot blocked by Irueta after a one-two with Alves and curled a powerful effort past the post, yet Barca’s play lacked the urgency to get through a well-drilled opposition.
Pique’s backheel inside his own penalty area almost led to Eibar stealing possession 25 yards from the Barca goal and Barca got an even greater let-off five minutes before half-time. Capa broke the offside trap, beat the on-rushing Bravo and put his shot the wrong side of the near post with the goal gaping.
Xavi Hernandez had a long-range shot saved as the half came to a close, Messi’s header saved comfortably shortly after, but Saul’s late attempt troubled Bravo to a greater extent than anything Irueta had to deal with.
Eibar were happy to let Barca use the flanks and then defend the resulting crosses, Alves making it that little bit easier for Los Ameros with his inaccurate delivery.
Barca went straight through the middle for the opener, Xavi making a rare dart into the box and being rewarded with a goal.
Pedro should have made it two moments later but his tame volley was easily stopped by Irueta, Eibar getting a little careless as tiredness crept in. The spaces suddenly started to open up for Barca and the Eibar foul count grew.
A Federico Piovaccari run and shot kept Barca alert but Neymar’s volley confirmed the points would be staying in Catalonia. Messi made double sure minutes later and crept closer to Telmo Zarra’s La Liga record of 251 goals.
He could match it – or surpass it – next week, when Barca travel to Santiago Bernabeu for the first Clasico of the season against Real Madrid.
Barcelona 3-0 Eibar
Xavi 60, Neymar 70, Messi 72
Barcelona: Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Xavi, Mascherano, Sergi Roberto (Iniesta 55); Pedro (Sandro 70), Messi, Neymar (Munir 77)
Eibar: Irureta; Boveda, Lillo, Albentosa, Ekiza, Abraham; Dani Garcia, Errasti, Capa (Boateng 75), Saul Berjon (Nieto 77); Javi Lara (Piovaccari 57)
Referee: Jose Antonio Teixeira Vitienes
