Eibar vs Granada
Estadio Municipal de Ipurua, Eibar
Friday, 20-12-2019 @11pm
Ref: Pablo Gonzalez
Eibar go into this Friday’s fixture 16th in the table and just two points above the relegation zone, after picking up just one point from their last five La Liga matches. The hosts have lost four of their last five matches at Ipurua, and have kept just one clean sheet in eight home games this term.
Granada are still sitting 9th in the table; however they are also struggling for form. Nazaries have lost five of their last seven league outings and their last four away on the bounce. The visitors have drawn a blank in their last two away fixtures, though they did manage to net in their previous six on the road, and have scored in 14 of their 17 league matches overall this season.
Last weekend’s 0-0 stalemate away to Athletic Bilbao was definitely a step back in the right direction for struggling Eibar, and although they went on to sweep aside third tier SD Logrones 0-5 in the Copa Del Rey on Tuesday evening, more evidence of a revival from Jose Luis Mendilibar’s men is needed in the coming weeks before they can be classed as a feasible betting proposition again in La Liga.
Eibar lost four league matches on the spin prior to picking up a point at San Mames, and they have now scored just one goal in their last five La Liga outings.
Los Armeros have been extremely solid and reliable at home in recent seasons, but their form at Ipurua has truly gone awry this term, with five defeats suffered from eight games including four from their last five outings.
Mendilibar’s side have failed to score in four of their last five at home and defensively they have also been poor in their own backyard, with 15 goals conceded in total and just one clean sheet mustered in eight.
Granada have to be content overall with their top half position going into the Christmas period, but recent form is definitely a concern for Nazaries, who travel to Ipurua on the back of five La Liga defeats in seven.
Last weekend’s 1-2 reverse against Levante at Los Carmenes was the latest setback suffered by Diego Martinez’ side, and the result was a bitter pill to swallow as they looked on course for a share of the spoils before Enis Bardhi bagged the winner for Granotas in the 89th minute.
It’s important to consider though that Granada have had to deal with some tricky fixtures over the past few weeks, taking on the likes of Real Sociedad (1-2), Valencia (2-0), Athletic Bilbao (2-0) and Atletico Madrid (1-1) – teams all currently positioned in the top eight.
While they would have expected better from last weekend’s clash against Levante, this Friday’s encounter against Eibar presents Nazaries with a decent opportunity to get their campaign back on track.
The other La Liga match-day 18 fixtures
Saturday, 21-12-2019
-Real Mallorca vs Sevilla @3pm
-Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves @6pm
-Villarreal vs Getafe @8:30pm
-Real Valladolid vs Valencia @11pm
Sunday, 22-12-2019
-Leganés vs Espanyol @2pm
-Osasuna vs Real Sociedad @4pm
-Real Betis vs Atletico Madrid @6pm
-Levante vs Celta Vigo @8:30pm
-Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao @11pm
