Preview: Mirandes vs. Eibar
Segunda Division leaders Eibar will be bidding to continue their promotion push when they travel to an in-from Mirandes on Monday night.
The visitors are currently top of the table, one point clear of second-placed Las Palmas on the same number of matches (31), while Mirandes occupy 12th, 11 points off the top six and 10 clear of the relegation zone.
Mirandes have never played in Spain’s top flight, but they have now been in the Segunda Division for the last four campaigns following their promotion from the third tier in 2019.
The Reds have finished 11th, 10th and 14th in their last three campaigns at this level, so it not a surprise to see them currently occupying 12th, boasting 40 points from their 31 matches this term.
It is difficult to imagine Mirandes pushing for the playoffs, currently sitting 11 points off the top six, but they are 10 points ahead of the relegation zone, which is a strong cushion at this stage of the season.
Joseba Etxeberria’s side will enter this match off the back of a 4-3 victory over Sporting Gijon last Sunday, which made it seven points from their last three games at this level.
Mirandes were actually 4-1 ahead early in the second period before Sporting Gijon answered back, but they managed to navigate their way through the closing stages to secure all the points in the seven-goal thriller.
Eibar, meanwhile, recorded a 1-0 win over Burgos last time out, with Jon Bautista scoring the only goal of the contest in the latter stages of the first period.
Gaizka Garitano’s side have now been victorious in each of their last four league games, which has left them at the top of the table, boasting 59 points from their 31 league games this term.
Eibar spent seven straight seasons in La Liga between 2014 and 2021 before their relegation, and they were third in the Segunda Division last term, which saw them qualify for the playoffs.
Los Armeros were beaten by Girona in the semi-finals of the playoffs, though, and they will be determined to secure automatic promotion this season.
It is so close at the top of the table, with only five points separating the top five, so there is pressure on Eibar to continue picking up victories, and they have two more league fixtures before the end of the month, following this match with a home game against FC Andorra.
Mirandes Segunda Division form:
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Eibar Segunda Division form:
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We say: Mirandes 1-2 Eibar
Mirandes have been relatively strong at home this season, picking up 29 points from 16 matches, but Eibar have the fourth-best away form in the division, and we are backing the visitors to secure what would be a huge three points on Monday night.