In a hard-fought contest at Ipurúa, Eibar secured a 2-1 victory over Huesca, extending their unbeaten run under newly appointed coach Beñat San José. The match highlighted the growing optimism around Eibar's ambitions for a playoff spot as they move further away from the relegation zone.
The clash began with Eibar controlling the tempo. In the opening minutes, Jon Bautista tested Huesca goalkeeper Dani Jiménez with a strong shot, which was skillfully saved. Huesca responded with a close attempt from Iker Kortajarena that struck the right post, also kept out by Jiménez, showcasing a rivalry that was brewing in the early stages of the match.
Despite both teams creating chances, the first half ended in a goalless stalemate, but Eibar's persistence paid off soon after the break. Just six minutes into the second half, Bautista found the net with a commanding header from José Corpas's pinpoint cross, putting the home side in a commanding position. The Eibar faithful erupted as the scoreline shifted to 1-0.
Eibar continued to build on their momentum, and just five minutes later, Corpas himself added to the tally with a well-placed shot that left Jiménez with no chance, doubling Eibar's lead to 2-0. Huesca was in trouble, and it appeared as though Eibar would comfortably secure all three points.
However, the visitors were not ready to give up just yet. Willy Chatiliez gave Huesca a glimmer of hope by scoring in the 78th minute with a deflected effort that slipped past Eibar's goalkeeper Jon Magunagoitia. This goal injected fresh energy into Huesca as they sought an equalizer in the closing stages.
The final minutes saw Huesca push hard, searching for an equalizer, but Eibar’s defense held strong amidst the pressure. The match concluded with Eibar clinching a crucial victory that lifts them out of danger and into a realm of optimism as the chase for promotion intensifies.
For Eibar, this victory marked their third win in five games since San José took charge, earning them a total of 11 points from a possible 15. Eibar now sits comfortably seven points clear of the relegation zone while setting their sights firmly on the playoff positions, just seven points away. In stark contrast, Huesca is facing a challenging period, having now lost three consecutive matches.
The players involved in key moments for Eibar included Jon Bautista, who scored the opening goal with a header, and José Corpas, whose contributions were invaluable, scoring the second goal and assisting Bautista's strike. Huesca's line-up saw Patrick Soko returning after a period out with injury, but they struggled to convert their chances into goals.
After the match, Eibar's coach San José expressed pride in his team's performance, emphasizing their ability to maintain composure and step up when it mattered. Conversely, Huesca's coach Antonio Hidalgo lamented his side's inability to start strongly, particularly in the second half, which proved decisive in the match's outcome.
The teams are set to return to action soon, with Eibar traveling to face Cádiz next week, while Huesca hopes to regroup at home against Real Sporting.
