Alert in Eibar: from revelation to touching the relegation zone

If at the beginning of 2021 it seemed that Eibar was walking with a firm step towards salvation thanks to its 21 points obtained in 16 games played, everything seems to have changed now for the Guipuzcoan city. The gunsmith team has gone from being in a comfortable ninth position, with nine points of advantage over the red places of the table, to touch the aforementioned relegation zone after ten consecutive days without knowing the victory.

And it is that Iker Dorronsoro's team surprised at the beginning of the campaign with its defensive solidity, with a well planted line of five, and the starts and flashes of a Thembi Kgatlana who was the star signing of the summer of the gunsmith club. The South African international has participated directly – with a goal (10) or an assist (5) – in 15 of the 23 goals scored by Eibar so far.

They beat Betis (0-1), Espanyol (0-1), Sevilla (0-1), Santa Teresa (2-0), Logroño (2-0) and even Athletic (0-1) . However, after the away win against the lionesses, everything has changed. And that last triumph was back on January 10. Since then, ten consecutive days without winning have caused the gunsmith team to drop to thirteenth position. Only three points above Betis, the first of the four teams that are in decline.

“We are left with the sensations. We have to believe in what we are doing”, said Iker Dorronsoro after Eibar's draw against Rayo Vallecano, a direct rival for permanence. The point added against the franjirrojas ended a streak of five consecutive defeats, but there is still a long way to go to end the drought of victories.

They will not have it easy, but the dangerous zone lurks and the need is pressing. Real Sociedad, Athletic, Santa Teresa, Granadilla and Betis are his next rivals.