Five months later, Eibar suffered another defeat at home. It came in the most promising match of the season for their fans, with Ipurua buzzing, and against a direct rival in their relentless battle for a playoff spot. Despite the stakes, Málaga proved superior on the pitch and took all three points back to La Rosaleda. A setback not seen in Eibar territory for some time—both for the supporters and the squad, who were represented in the mixed zone by their captain:
“We’re hurting because we were on an unbeatable run.”
For Anaitz Arbilla, Málaga was one of the most talented teams to visit Ipurua: “We knew we had a very tough opponent in front of us—they have a lot of bite and players with good feet. At times we saw their quality and the energy they had. One of the best sides to come through Ipurua. Even so, we were in the game and defending well without conceding much. They basically scored with every chance they had, especially in the second half.” In Málaga’s comeback, Funes’ substitutions proved decisive, as their last three goals came from fresh legs: Niño and Brasanac.
Regarding the goals conceded, the now left-back acknowledged certain “disadjustments” they will aim to fix during the week. With the competition relentless, Eibar is already focused on their assault on Anduva. “We need to review and analyze the goals we conceded because I think they caught us off balance in a few moments. It’s time to reset. We have a fairly long week to prepare for the match in Miranda, and we’ll go there with all our senses set on winning,” stated the No. 23.
Against Mirandés, the armadillos will try to recover the fortune they lost against Málaga. “Everything happened in the match—a quick penalty against us, we turned it around, went into halftime winning, and then they came back. It was an important game where we also had the head-to-head advantage with them. But this continues,” elaborated the captain, eager to get back to winning ways.
In the standings, Eibar sits just one win away from reaching the promotion playoffs. Arbilla is well aware: “We had high hopes for today’s match, and it’s a shame, but we won’t give up. We are very much alive in this fight for the playoff. There are four games left, and we’re in the mix. We have to do our job so we don’t regret it later.”
Eibar 2 – Málaga 4
San José: “I decided to go for the game, and they beat us with blows”
Eibar 2 – Málaga 4
Málaga breaks the ‘Ipurua effect’
Finally, the native of Larraintzar wanted to acknowledge the fans: “I am extremely proud of the group we have, and we have managed to engage the supporters. I am very grateful for the energy they generated today because we come from years of suffering, and that’s not easy. All I ask is that they keep believing, just like us. They showed it at the end. The people are excited and grateful for what we’ve given. And we feel the same. All that’s left is to dream, keep our heads up, and keep working.”
