Although hope is lost only when mathematics dictates, the truth is that Eibar is playing this day against Alavés in Ipurua (Saturday, 2:00 p.m.) a large part of their chances of salvation. Winning is an obligation. To draw practically would not even alleviate the ills of the Gipuzkoan team. Y losing would almost be the last straw for a team that closes the table with 23 points, seven from salvation, marked by Valladolid with 30 points.
In case of defeat and in the worst case (victories of Valladolid at home against Betis and Getafe in Vila-real), the distance with the save would shoot up to 10 points with 12 left up for grabs. And with the aggravation of having lost the goal average with Aavés, who already won in Mendizorrotza in the first round, a mission that would seem almost impossible, although in football this word is banished from all dictionaries.
The Eibar, yes, would still hope to be able to hold on to the nail burning from have the goal average won with Valladolid (1-2 in Pucela, 1-1 in Ipurúa) and pending a resolution with Getafe, which drew 0-0 in the armoires area but has yet to receive Mendilibar's men at the Alfonso Pérez Coliseum, a meeting scheduled precisely for the next day . There, in the blue fiefdom, Eibar will once again be obliged to add the three points To feed some hope, however weak it may be.
Win, win and win again, the old motto coined by Luis Aragonés, is the only way to follow for Eibar on his dreamed path to salvation. The gunsmith team has achieved up to moment four victories, figures that do not invite optimism. But in the situation in which Eibar finds itself, the past does not exist. It is only worth looking ahead and focusing on what is coming. And what comes first is Alavés. A team, the Vitorian, who will try endorse in Ipurúa the reaction experienced by the hand of Javi Calleja (eight points in the last four days) and add a victory that also consolidates their hopes of salvation. Dramatic duel.