Athletic, a finalist and contender for the title still in last season's Cup tournament, will start this edition against UD Ibiza. The island club, which will serve as a local at this crossroads, has eliminated Celta this week, with a resounding 5-2 result. The previous campaign was also on the verge of giving a scare to Barça.
Sergio Castel, their captain, acknowledged shortly after this match was known that “it is going to be a very difficult game against Athletic, but we play at home. We have already eliminated Celta and I only know that we are also going to make it difficult for the people of Bilbao”.
UD Ibiza marches as the solo leader of Group 3 Group B of Second B with five points of advantage over Hercules, second classified. This same week, the insulares gave the great surprise in the Cup by knocking Celta 5-2. Three of his goals came before the first half hour of play.
Sergio Castel, with a double, and Javi Pérez, put the victory back on track on the artificial turf of the Can Misses municipal stadium. Then Manu Molina scored, with a Panenka penalty, and Ángel Rodado.
Ibiza scored five goals against Celta
Ibiza thus made history by eliminating a Primera, as it was about to do a year ago in this same scenario after falling to Barça 1-2. The Riojan Juan Carlos Carcedo, second for 14 seasons of Unai Emery, acts as coach of Athletic's next cup rival. The tie will be played on January 20 or 21.