Friday, January 2, 2026, 18:08
The new year has not brought good news for Barakaldo. Quite the opposite. In recent days, the team has lost two very important pieces. Imanol de la Sota confirmed today at a press conference the injuries of Eric Pérez and Unai Naveira, permanent fixtures in the coach’s plans. In Naveira’s case, “it doesn’t seem like much,” the coach revealed. “For this game he will surely not be there and for the next one we do not know,” he added. The midfielder is the third outfield player with the most minutes on the squad and was named the team’s best player in the month of November.
Even so, what about Eric Pérez is much more alarming. Unless medical tests confirm the extent, you could suffer a long-term injury. “We are more worried in the absence of the tests that are done,” said De la Sota, who added that “we do believe that it will be for some time.” With three goals and two assists, the Ermuarra winger is the second player on the squad with the most goal participation, equal with Oier López and surpassed only by Víctor San Bartolomé -seven-. “Let’s see if it’s as little as possible because he was doing very well and was growing adequately,” said his coach.
In addition, there are two other players who are doubtful due to flu ahead of the match this Saturday at 6:45 p.m. in Lasesarre against Unionistas de Salamanca. It will be the first game of the year for the factories, who have only added one point in the last four games. In this same period of time, the charro team has only added two. Therefore, the moment of both is similar, as is the qualifying situation, since they add the same points -twenty-. They are twelfth and thirteenth, being two points above the relegation places and seven from the play-off.
Imanol de la Sota warns that Unionistas “started very badly, but as a result of the change of coach it has gotten better.” “He is very clear about what he plays and is capable of adapting to many situations,” he adds. Regarding his recent dynamics, the coach considers that the same thing happens to him as the people from Baracaldes. That is, “the results have not been as good as what they have shown in the field,” he reflects. With two teams in a delicate moment, getting ahead on the scoreboard can be decisive. Something that Barakaldo has only done in five of the 17 games.
Interest in De Jesús
In addition, the winter market has already opened. Joseba Núñez, general director of the club, already told EL CORREO that he did not want to carry out any “revolution.” Imanol de la Sota did not want to get involved in the matter. “It is not my job to wear myself out on that when there is competition, I am happy with what I have and we have to make the most of what we have,” he said. However, in recent days, there has been talk about the interest of Cádiz, from the Second Division, in Beñat de Jesús.
The 23-year-old right back is shining with his own light and several clubs are following him. Imanol de la Sota does not hide that “he deserves the interest of many people, he has earned it, he has been with us for three years and his growth has been brutal.” However, he comments that “no one has said anything to me, I see him super focused, working hard, happy, happy, he is very happy here.” The coach settled this matter by pointing out that “he will give his all regardless of the rumors there are, I see him very calm and very focused, which is what interests me so that he continues to give the incredible level that he is giving.”
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