Without any option to win or rebound, Eibar clung like a burning nail to the point that brought them their welcome defensive solidity, … which does not solve their qualifying problems, but at least it did allow them to cut the scoring bleed they had been suffering in the last three games, in which they had conceded no less than eight goals.
Of course, he had to concentrate all his efforts on keeping a clean sheet for the first time in the nine visits made to date, at the cost of sacrificing any hint of danger in attack, because as the statistics reflected, he did not take a shot, neither on goal nor anywhere.
With just 27% of the time that he had the ball at his feet, only Guruzeta was able to sneak into the area, although the San Sebastian native, trapped because nothing was coming out of what he tried, did not dare to finish one of the few options that Eibar was able to string together to get into the opponent’s area, the other of the great shortcomings that have led them to the bottom of the table.
A revolutionized hornet’s nest
With only one victory to take in the last eleven games, Beñat San José once again stirred up the hornet’s nest to try to alter the bad dynamic that has haunted him since almost three months ago he was close to the playoff positions after his victory at home in the derby against Real Sociedad B (2-1), the worst visitor, only behind the armeros.
And, once again, he surprised everyone and everyone, not so much with his approach, in an expected return to his usual 4-2-3-1, but rather because of the protagonists he chose to start from the start, since in addition to making five changes compared to the failed clash against Leonesa (Cubero, Buta, Olaetxea, Madariaga and Martón, for Marco Moreno, Javi Martínez, Magunazeelaia, Adu Ares and Bautista), he once again modified the position of Corpas, moving it to the left flank.
A maneuver that was intended to place Madariaga on the right wing, who enjoyed his first start since last February 15, two weeks before he was injured in Cartagena, in his second participation with Beñat San José already occupying the bench.
The action plan was focused, as the San Sebastian player previously announced, on trying to solve the major problems that Eibar has been suffering in both areas, where they concede too much in their own, without taking advantage of their numerous arrivals to the opponent.
But although yesterday he opted to hand over the scoring responsibility to Martón instead of a Bautista who was denied the goal, neither the Navarrese nor the rest had the capacity to even tickle a goalkeeper from Córdoba who became just another spectator of the half inning that was recorded in the Nuevo Árcángel.
Because the gunsmiths had to allocate all their resources to try to prevent Córdoba from breaking its particular streak of results that had left it without a win in the last five days.
And the intense pressure from the azulgranas at the start of the match seemed to bother a green and white team that saw how Isma Ruiz, the key of the Córdoba team, as well as the center back Xabi Sintes, were loaded with cards well before reaching the break.
But the blanket that covered his feet only allowed Guruzeta, after the 20th minute of play, to star in an attack in which he was generous, since instead of finishing a combination with Martón, the San Sebastian native decided to return it to him, giving the defense the option to clear the danger.
More or less the same thing happened with another lateral center from Cubero that goalkeeper Iker intercepted practically on the only ball he touched in the entire game.
Everything tied
The four changes that the Barça coach made in one go, shortly after Rquena’s shot from outside the area hit the crossbar after a providential touch from Magunagoitia, did not improve the offensive performance of the gunsmiths at all.
In fact, from then until the referee whistled the end of the fight beyond the 95th minute, the Eibar residents had to dedicate themselves body and soul to protecting their fence to protect a point that, although they may know little, offsets part of the injuries they have suffered away from home, where they have only added three of the 27 points for which they have fought.
With this band-aid that is not enough to cover the bleeding wound, Eibar is now preparing to receive the cup visit of Elche on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.), with the gun fans up in arms against the board despite the club’s rectification in its decision to automatically charge admission to its subscribers, just three days before the farewell of the year in Ipurua on Friday (8:30 p.m.) against a Valladolid that is also not meeting the expectations of its demanding hobby.
Córdoba
Iker; Carlos Isaac, Sintes (Alex Martín, m. 46), Rubén Avés (Guardiola, m.77), Albarrán (Juan María, m. 77); Isma Ruiz (Isma Medina, m.63); Dalissón, Requena; Carracedo, Fuentes, Jacobo (Del Moral, m. 77).
0
–
0
Eibar
Magunagoitia; Cubero (Arambarri, m. 69, Nolaskoain, Marco Moreno, Arbilla, Buta (Álvaro, m. 69)); Olaetxea, Sergio; Madariaga (Magunazelaia, m. 69), Cruzeta (Aleix Garrido, m. 85), Corpas; Martón (Bautista, d. 69).
San José values “the solidarity and resilience of my players”
Beñat San José valued the point scored in Córdoba positively, although he acknowledged that the team’s morale did not go any further in the Nuevo Arcángel. “It is a very important point, because one of our objectives was not to concede goals and we have achieved that.”
The San Sebastian native pointed out that “in the first half we moved the ball a little better, but we were not sharp in the final crosses and given that, in the second we knew that we would have to defend ourselves in our area.” For this reason, he highly valued “the solidarity, commitment and resilience of the players, who after three defeats, have been very solid to start a very valuable draw that we will have to do well in Ipurua.”
He admitted that, although his style “is based on generating many options, our morale was not enough for everything and we have dedicated ourselves to putting our lines together so as not to lose.”
