On the 28th of February 2025, SD Eibar secured a significant victory over FC Cartagena, triumphing with a score of 2-0 at the Estadio Cartagonova. This match marked Eibar's departure from their dismal streak of six winless matches, which included three draws and three defeats. With this win, Eibar climbed to sixteenth place, now totaling 37 points, distancing themselves from the relegation zone by six points.
The game began with FC Cartagena struggling, sitting at the bottom of the LaLiga Hypermotion with just 15 points—18 points away from safety. Despite showing moments of potential, the Efesé (Cartagena's nickname) has faced condemnation due to their exceedingly poor performance, currently on their seventh consecutive loss and enduring 11 matches without victory.
Coached by Guillermo Fernández Romo, FC Cartagena made two changes from their previous match against Elche, introducing Martín Aguirregabiria and Rafa Núñez. Eibar's manager Beñat San José also shifted his lineup, initiating with four changes since his debut match against Racing de Santander.
Early action unfolded as Alex Millán of Cartagena attempted to score but was denied by Eibar's goalkeeper Jon Mikel Magunagoitia, who intervened effectively. Subsequently, Eibar responded with Jon Bautista's miss from outside the area and secured the lead through Jorge Pascual's skillful strike at the 24-minute mark. Within just minutes, Eibar cemented their authority on the match with Sergio Cubero doubling the score off a corner, making it 2-0.
Despite several tactical alterations made by Fernández Romo during halftime—substituting Aguirregabiria, Pepín Machín, and Alex Millán—the dynamics of the match did not change much. Eibar continued to dominate play, with Pablo Campos from Cartagena performing heroics to prevent the scoreline from widening.
Notably, Kiko Olivas nearly reduced the deficit with a header hitting the crossbar, validating Eibar's defensive stance for the match. Although Assane Ndiaye and others attempted to make their mark, their sporadic efforts were met by Eibar's strong defense.
With the victory, Eibar proved to be composed, handling the match comfortably against what appeared to be a resigned opposition. Spectators at the Cartagonova stadium expressed their frustration, calling for club president Francisco Belmonte to sell the team. The discontent among fans highlighted the desperation surrounding the club's situation.
Moving forward, Eibar can facilitate momentum toward their goals for the remainder of the season, especially with their next match against UD Almería fast approaching. Meanwhile, for Cartagena, the focus must shift toward reversing their fortunes as relegation looms large on the horizon.