The Eleven

To face the leader at Ipurua, Eibar presented a recognizable lineup, designed to once again demonstrate that it is a tough nut to crack on its home turf. Jonmi Magunagoitia took the goal, backed by a defensive line formed by Cubero, Marco Moreno, Jair, replacing the suspended Peru Nolaskoain, and Arbilla.

In the midfield, Sergio Álvarez and Lander Olaetxea repeated as the pair in the double pivot, tasked with maintaining balance and toughening every contest against a Racing team accustomed to setting the pace. Ahead, Guruzeta and the return of Corpas to the eleven supported Mada inside, with the mission of connecting and assisting Jon Bautista.

A compact, competitive block prepared to remind Racing that at Ipurua every point is fought for until the last ball.

Racing imposes its effectiveness

And under that premise, Eibar found its first opportunity. A long ball to Corpas, before the fifth minute, turned into a chance by the winger himself, who created space with two cuts before the Cantabrian wall blocked his shot.

Racing responded in the 11th and 15th minutes, after stringing together several minutes of possession with purpose. Jair appeared providentially to disrupt Guliashvili just enough and deflect his shot, which went awry, as did a second angled attempt. Eibar did not lose composure and replied with a shot from Olaetxea that once again tested the visiting defense.

In the 19th minute, a Racing combination following a possible foul on Corpas led to the clearest chance so far, finished by Mantilla over the crossbar. The home team's response was swift: a deep pass found a hard-to-detect Guruzeta from the opposite flank, his cross traveled to the far post, and Mada, arriving at pace, struck first-time with a shot that grazed the post.

The match had no clear owner, but there was a team with greater finishing ability. That was what the statistics suggested before the match, and it proved true in the 22nd minute. Andrés Martín put Racing ahead with a volley after a cross from Mantilla on the right, a play that showcased the resolute capability that keeps the Cantabrian team at the top of the table.

Until halftime, the contest remained open. Racing threatened again with a shot from Facu González from the edge of the box that forced Magunagoitia to intervene, while Eibar persisted in their bid for an equalizer with a move on the right that Lander Olaetxea headed with intent. The leader struck first, but Ipurua had already made it clear that it would not be an easy opponent to break down.

Tie from the bench

Eibar returned from the break determined to bite. A cross from Arbilla to the heart of the area was caught by Guruzeta as best he could, but the referee raised the flag for offside, a decision confirmed by the replay. Ipurua already sensed that the equalizer was getting closer.

Past the hour mark, and after several plays where the idea was good but the legs didn't quite follow through, Beñat San José shook up the game with a triple substitution: Javi Martínez, Javi Martón, and Adu Ares came on for Corpas, Olaetxea, and Bautista. The move revitalized the team and reinforced the feeling that the leader was starting to face an increasingly tough opponent, one that could turn the tables at any moment.

The reward came shortly after. A long ball from Sergio Álvarez found Javi Martón, who controlled it with his head before finishing with cold blood, slotting it through Jokin Ezkieta's legs on practically his first touch of the ball. A tie orchestrated from the bench and celebrated by a crowd that saw Eibar rise again against the league leaders.

With the 1-1 already shining at the top of Ipurua, Racing reminded everyone of their status as leaders with a shot from Suleiman that hit the post, a warning that their firepower remained intact. However, in the 80th minute, a very reckless action by Puerta left the Cantabrians with ten men and changed the scenario for the final stretch.

In stoppage time, when the draw seemed sealed and the leader was holding on as best they could, Ipurua pushed with everything. Two consecutive shots were saved on the line, two chances that seemed to signal a cruel fate. But Eibar didn't let go. The ball returned to the area, stayed alive among legs and deflections, and Álvaro appeared to push it into the net and make the stadium erupt.

The 2-1 was the reward for persistence, conviction, and the faith of a team that never stopped fighting. The leader fell at Ipurua because they faced an unbreakable opponent. A comeback full of character, orchestrated from the bench and completed in the final moments, reaffirms Eibar as one of the toughest rivals in the league.

What's coming

After toppling the leader, Eibar will face another tough opponent in the category: RC Deportivo at Riazor on Saturday 21st starting at 4:15 PM.