Eibar – Osasuna Only one goal was missing in a vibrant derby in Ipurua

Eibar and Osasuna drew (0-0) in Ipurua on Sunday in an open and even match, in which the balance could be decanted to either side, so the equalized was fair. There was everything, many things to tell, but the most important thing was missing: the goals and the public. The Navarrese team was better at the beginning, when they missed clear opportunities to get ahead on the scoreboard. However, the Guipuzcoans, who had not yet won a home game in the 2020-2021 season, improved over time and were also able to win. The two teams had won in their previous league duels and staged a vibrant, hard-fought and very even duel, in which everything happened, occasions, injuries, expulsion … Well, not all, because the goals were missing, which are the icing on football.

The game started badly for the Catalans because Pedro Bigas was injured in the warm-up (He suffered from muscular discomfort that prevented him from playing in Valladolid) and Paulo Oliveira, who appeared as a substitute in the line-ups, played in his place. The problems accumulated for José Luis Mendilibar, the coach of the Eibar, who suffered the loss of 3 pivots (Edu Expósito, Pape Diop and Recio), which caused Miguel Ángel Atienza, midfielder of the subsidiary (CD Vitoria) to dispute his first game as a starter with Eibar in the First Division. However, more absences suffered Jagoba Arrasate, who could not complete the call for 23 players, because he only had 19 men, between injured and positive for coronavirus in the Osasuna first team and the subsidiary (Osasuna Promises). In addition, he suffered a physical mishap during the meeting Calleri, who had to withdraw after half an hour.

The rivalry between Guipuzcoans and Navarrese developed with passion, fight and a lot of rhythm, although without fans in the stands. The rojillos (who played in white) came out for the win and Enric Gallego shot out just short of the start. Shortly after, the other attacker from Pamplona, ​​Jonathan Calleri won an action from Esteban Burgos and also launched a cross shot on goal. Osasuna continued to insist on scoring and shortly after the ball returned to walk through the local area in another dangerous play. But the clearest occasions were played by Enric Gallego and Calleri (before being injured in the first half by Jony). First, Enric Gallego hit a good header that licked the post when the goal was already called after a good center from Kike Barja (he left Barça's Arbilla, who played on the right side); and then Calleri starred in a 'one on one' in which goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic was right to take the ball away from the Argentine attacker when he tried to dribble. Eibar awakened in attack. Well, actually, only the Japanese Takashi Inui did it, who in two different plays left the rivals and shot on goal with danger, although on both occasions goalkeeper Sergio Herrera cleared well. But again Osasuna launched himself upwards again, Enric Gallego won again in a duel against the local defense, he fired and stopped Dmitrovic.

After the break it was Eibar who started creating danger. Thus, Inui returned to look for the rival goal with a shot on the edge of the area, but again goalkeeper Sergio Herrera responded well, clearing his fists. The Japanese returned to generate another occasion by controlling a ball in the area and giving back to Sergio Álvarez, who shot, and the ball hit the defenders as in the bowling. But the duel was still very open and even, and Osasuna responded with a shot from Jon Moncayola that Dmitrovic stopped. The game was encouraged because the two teams went up. The visitor Jony crossed with danger from the left wing and the ball went through the Eibar area without there being a finisher. The Navarrese were also able to score on a corner kick, but a header from David García narrowly missed. Eibar reacted and Bryan Gil (he made his debut as a Barça player, as did the second on loan from Sevilla, Alejandro Pozo) shot correctly as soon as he jumped onto the pitch, although the ball hit the post when it seemed that it was entering the goal. But again the Asturian Jony starred in a quick counterattack on the left wing, crossed with danger, Esteba Burgos cleared (he took the ball from Adrián when he was about to finish) and the ball went to a corner. Bryan Gil's youth and self-confidence was once again demonstrated in a shot from the outside that Sergio Herrera stopped. It is the first time that Eibar has scored in Ipurua with Osasuna in the First Division (they had lost the 2 previous games).