Eibar faces the first of its four remaining season finals this Sunday at Anduva. After a decisive 2-4 loss to Málaga at Ipurua last Saturday, the team needs to react quickly to keep its promotion playoff chances alive. The main priority is to recover the defensive solidity that had made the team one of the most reliable in Europe's top leagues in recent months.

The defeat against a direct rival left a particularly bitter taste at Ipurua. Not only due to the impact on the standings, but also because of how it occurred. Eibar conceded four goals at home for the first time this season, and for the second time overall, following a 4-0 loss last November at El Sardinero against Racing de Santander. This statistic is particularly striking given the team's previously outstanding defensive record.

In fact, before the match against Málaga, the goalkeeper had only picked up four balls from his net in the previous ten matchdays. Eibar had built its spectacular climb in the standings on almost impeccable defensive reliability, keeping clean sheets on most occasions and becoming the team with the most games without conceding a goal in the league (16 in 38 matches). However, the Málaga team managed to dismantle this strength in a second half where Eibar showed uncharacteristic defensive lapses.

Now, the objective is to rebuild that defensive wall as quickly as possible. They will face Mirandés, a team that makes Anduva one of the most demanding venues in the league and will push Eibar to its limits. Eibar is compelled to secure three points to avoid falling out of contention for a top-six finish.

The good news is that the team is gradually recovering key players. After two months of absence, a crucial player has partially returned to training with the group after overcoming meniscus problems and could be included in the squad. His return would be a significant boost for a defense that needs to regain its strength in this final stretch of the season.