Barakaldo removed all their complexes at once in the first game of 2026. It was difficult for the Gualdinegros to open the scoreboard. Only … He had started ahead in five of the previous 17 league games. A record favored by its low conversion of occasions. This had been his big headache, which had cost him a large number of points. Well, the people of Baracald knew how to make a virtue of necessity and turn around all their big problems against the Unionists.
Imanol de la Sota’s team took the lead before even the first minute of play had elapsed and converted almost all of the dangerous chances they had in the first half. They went into the break with a 4-0 lead, being the best first half for the Gualdinegro team since on October 22, 2022, they also left with a four-goal lead going into the locker room, against Pasaia in the Third Federation. In addition, Aitor Galarza put the icing on the cake in the second half to achieve the club’s biggest win in the First Federation (5-0).
In fact, it is Barakaldo’s biggest victory since February 25, 2024, when they also beat Real Sociedad C 5-0, in the Second Federation. Likewise, they far surpassed their best results in the First Federation, achieved in the first round of last year. The biggest wins in this category, until now, were against Tarazona -November 3, 2024- and Cultural Leonesa -December 8, 2024-. Both 3-0 in Lasesarre. This season, they had only beaten Tenerife by more than one goal (2-0).
Imanol de la Sota described the meeting as “a great evening.” Although he also clarified that “it has not been different from the first parts of the last two games we had played at home in terms of play and chances, but the first two we had, we scored.” Barakaldo came to this challenge after adding one point from the last twelve possible points, earning merit to achieve a greater prize, but punished by efficiency. Against Unionists they turned this dynamic around.
End to the drought of the tips
Another great news is that the forwards’ drought is over. Between Aitor Galarza and Álex Valiño, they had not yet managed to score this campaign. Finally, Galarza saw the door. It was a penalty forced by himself, after assisting on the first two goals. De la Sota emphasized that “when they have been good and have been able to hold us down, generate fouls and give us air, that is when we have played the best games.” Although he recognized the importance of the goal and the moral injection that it can provide to the ermuarra. “I hope it is the first of many,” concluded his coach.
