Distribution of points in Ipurua in a derby played until the end and with the VAR as one of the great protagonists. Athletic went ahead on the scoreboard, Eibar rallied and Villalibre, on their first ball as soon as they jumped onto the field, established the definitive tables. The point does not fulfill the aspirations of either of the two contenders.
The lions started better on the cold and empty Ipurua. Escalante's hand inside the area also allowed them to open the scoring at the first change. Thus, Raúl García opened the penalty marker.
The blaugrana push was increasing in intensity with the passing of the minutes as the visitors lost gas. Kike García, with his nose, signed the 1-1 before the break. In the resumption and after another previous consultation to the VAR, Prieto Iglesias indicated a penalty for grabbing Dani García to Kike García. Orellana did not forgive from the fateful point.
The Barça joy only lasted a few moments because the people of Bilbao, on the first ball that Villalibre played, signed the tie. A result that keeps the gunsmiths a little further from the relegation zone and does not bring Bilbao fans too close to the European ointment.
More changes at the starting Eibar than at Athletic. Double to be exact. Mendilibar, faithful to his classic 4-4-2, gave entry to Cote in the left-back, Escalante in the double pivot, Pedró León in the right-handed interior and Kike García in the top. The remaining seven were the same as against Madrid.
Garitano, for his part, presented a significant novelty in his lineup. The fireproof Williams was relegated to the bench. Larra, his substitute, thus passed to the right wing and Raúl García stood as false, or not so false, nine. The other Bilbao variation was given by the replacement of Vesga by Unai López in the wide area.
The lions started well. Put and willing. Córdoba forced Dmitrovic to show off at the first change and just a minute later tYuri's iro was deflected off the arm by Escalante inside the home area. Consult the VAR, penalty and goal of Raúl García in the 8th minute.
Eibar did not feel comfortable against a firm Athletic and ready to go on the attack at the first possible opportunity. Everything, however, was reduced to a simple matter of time. The gunsmiths gradually took over the situation and began to create danger.
Cote forced Unai Simón to stretch from a direct free kick and Kike García, with his nose, tied immediately to the center of Pedro León. The course of the meeting was turning little by little in favor of the azulgrana, although until just shortly before the break they did not force the solid visiting goal to intervene more.
The tone of the derby did not change at the start of the second half. Eibar put an Athletic behind unable to cross the midfield in search of the local goal. The entry of Williams by Córdoba did not give more depth to the Bilbao team.
Neither the referee nor the VAR appreciated a penalty action for grabbing Yuri to Kike in the first bars. The protests cost Mendilibar's expulsion. Eibar, with Lekue already in the visiting ranks, kept trying against an unresponsive opponent.
The VAR, however, returned to acquire its leading role in another set-piece action in which Dani García struggled with Escalante. Maximum penalty after several minutes of waiting and Orellana's goal. Ibai and Villalibre to the field. The Gernika striker tied immediately a pass from Dani García himself.
[+] Look at the summary and the goals of the match: