0-0 | SD Eibar and CD Castellón share the points at Ipurua

The Starting Eleven

The return to Ipurua brought a starting eleven with some changes, prompted by absences due to suspensions. Beñat San José opted for Jonmi in goal; a back four consisting of Cubero, Marco Moreno, Arbilla, who returned to the starting lineup after serving a suspension and being a substitute in Ceuta, and Álvaro Rodríguez, chosen to take the left-back position instead of Buta. In midfield, Sergio and Aleix Garrido were positioned, accompanied on the wings by Alkain and Adu Ares, who celebrated his birthday with a starting role. Magunazelaia took the attacking midfield position, and Bautista was the team's offensive reference.

A first half of exchanges

The return of football to Ipurua began at a slow pace, marked by interruptions and a clash between two Castellón players that stalled the start of the match. The home team tried to take control of the game from the beginning, and the first chance came from Bautista: he controlled the ball with his back to the goal inside the box, and his shot, slightly deflected by the opposing defense, ended up in Matthys' hands. Shortly after, it was Adu Ares who appeared on the left, cutting inside and taking a shot, marking the second clear opportunity before the tenth minute.

From there, Castellón gained ground and possession, guided by the vision of a recovered Alberto, who connected with Doue in the attacking midfield and managed to bypass Eibar's first line of pressure. In the 17th minute, Cala sent a warning with a curling shot that grazed Jonmi's top corner. These were the visitors' best moments, and shortly after, they tried again with a shot from Mamah on the right, well saved by Eibar's goalkeeper.

After the half-hour mark, Eibar responded. Spurred on by a supportive crowd, Beñat San José's team endured the pressure and returned to the opposing box. Magunazelaia, making a run down the right, led a good attack that ended with a cross into the box, but neither Bautista nor Adu Ares could reach it.

Persisting, an excellent combination between Bautista and Magunazelaia in the middle ended with a cross to Alkain, whose shot was deflected by a defender. However, the referee did not award the corner, prompting protests from the crowd. Shortly after, in the opposite box, Mabil posed a threat, and Jonmi responded with a great save, though he ended up in pain with an ankle injury after the play. With this exchange of dominance and momentum, the first half came to an end. Eibar lacked the fluidity and attacking continuity they had shown in previous games to get more out of a first half marked by alternation.

Equality without an owner in the second half

Without changes after the break, Eibar came out with determination in search of a goal and with adjustments to further level the contest. After a few minutes of acclimatization to the intensity of the second half, a recovery in the opponent's field allowed Magunazelaia to deliver a dangerous cross that passed between the goalkeeper and Bautista without finding a finisher.
Shortly after, a foul on the edge of the Armeros' area offered Castellón a new opportunity: the shot, after deflecting off the wall, ended up in the back of the net, but the assistant raised the flag signaling Alberto offside.

Eibar maintained the pressure and created danger again with a play by Adu Ares, very active on the left, who cut inside to his right foot and aimed for the far post. After an hour of play, Beñat San José brought on Guruzeta and Javi Martínez for Aleix and Alkain, seeking freshness in the offensive phase.

Ipurua froze with a collision between Cubero and Lucas that left the full-back semi-conscious on the pitch, requiring medical attention and substitution. San José reorganized his pieces: he placed Peru as a center-back, moved Álvaro to the right-back position, and positioned Arbilla on the left. Additionally, he brought on Martón in place of Magunazelaia.

With this new setup, the game moved to the midfield, without clear chances for either team. Until the 84th minute, when Cala, after a ball filtered by Eibar's Pablo Santiago, narrowly missed the target.

San José used his last substitutions with Arambarri and Toni Villa, and it was the latter who, in the final minute of the game, delivered a precise ball into the area that Bautista headed over the crossbar, bringing the match to an end. A point for each in a balanced and inconclusive duel.

What's coming

SD Eibar will pack their bags again for matchday 10 of the league championship in LaLiga HyperMotion. It will be the fifth away game of the season and will take the team to the Estadio de Gran Canaria, where they will face UD Las Palmas on Sunday, October 19, starting at 9:00 PM.