Eibar welcomed Rayo Vallecano on Friday looking to record their first La Liga victory since early January.
The home side took the lead after 35 minutes when Mikel Arruabarrena converted from the penalty spot, but Alberto Bueno levelled the scores just five minutes later.
Rayo completed the turnaround after 42 minutes when Manucho headed home from close range.
Eibar had chances to level in the second period, but could not find a second goal, while they finished the game with 10 men following a late red card for Raul Navas.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage resumes from the Ipurua as struggling Eibar welcome in-form Rayo Vallecano. The international break has been and gone and now the focus switches back to domestic football. It is a hugely important match to open Week 29 in Spain's top flight.
Right, before anything else, let me bring you up-to-speed with the team news.
TEAMS:
EIBAR: Jaime; Boveda, Anibarro, Navas, Didac; Garcia, Errasti; Capa, Mikel, Berjon; Piovaccari
RAYO: Alvarez; Tito, Ze Castro, Ba, Insua; Baena, Jozabed; Kakuta, Bueno, Embarba; Manucho
So there we have it. On-loan Sampdoria forward Federco Piovaccari will lead the line for Eibar this evening, while there are also spots in the team for Saul Berjon and Mikel Arruabarrena. Jon Errasti and Dani Garcia will hold the midfield, but Javi Lara misses out on a place in the XI.
Rayo, meanwhile, are without the injured Leo Baptistao and the suspended Roberto Trashorras. As a result, experienced forward Manucho starts in attack, while Jozabed comes in for a rare start in midfield. Spanish attacker Adri Embarba and in-form Alberto Bueno are also included in what is an attacking XI.
These two teams have only met once before in Spain's top flight and that particular match occurred earlier this season, with Eibar recording a 3-2 victory in the Spanish capital. Incredibly, none of the last 11 clashes between the two teams in all competitions have ended level, with Eibar winning five, Rayo winning six and both sides scoring exactly 14 times. Anyone for a draw tonight then?
Eibar have not won in the league since beating Getafe 2-1 on January 10. Since then, the newly-promoted outfit have lost eight times and drawn twice - scoring just three times in the process. Despite that terrible run of form, they are outside of the relegation zone in 14th position, but are now just three points clear of the bottom three as the race to remain in the league hots up.
El once del Eibarse ejercitaen el céspedde Ipurua. Menosde media horapara el iniciodel partido. AupaEibar!! pic.twitter.com/S0mCkPign7
— SD Eibar(@sdeibar) April 3, 2015
Eibar's home form this season has been pretty poor, meanwhile, losing seven of their 13 matches and scoring just 14 times in the process. They picked up what could be a vital point at Granada last time out, but it is their home form where matters have to improve. Tonight's match is just massive.
Rayo, meanwhile, are certainly looking up the table rather than down. Paco Jemez's side have won three of their last four games in the league, with victory over Malaga last time out moving them into 11th position. They are now 10 points from the relegation zone and just four points from eighth-place Athletic Bilbao.
Rayo's away form this season has been hit and miss – winning five of their 14 games, but losing eight times in the process. The fact that they have only drawn two times in the league this season is an indication of the type of team that they are. When the capital outfit are good, they are really good, but they are capable of some really poor performances, which their supporters will know only too well. What Rayo will we have here?
PREDICTION! I really fancy Rayo here. The capital outfit have been playing some super stuff in recent weeks and have such a threat in the final third. Eibar are due to a win, but it is difficult to see where the goals are coming from. I am expecting a tight game for long spells, with Rayo recording a 2-1 win.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. The hosts get the action underway.
It must be said that there is a strong atmosphere inside the stadium this evening. Eibar have struggled in recent months, but the supporters are still with them. It isn't the biggest of stadiums to say the least. Neither side has taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes here.
Eibar threaten in a wide area as Saul finds space before delivering, but it goes behind for a Rayo goal kick. Saul delivers a much better cross moments later, but there are no takers inside the box.
Eibar are in control at the moment as Piovaccari delivers a super cross from the left, but once again, there are no takers inside the box. Rayo are yet to really enjoy a period of sustained possession.
CHANCE! Incredible chance for the home side as Piovaccari plays a super pass into Capa, who rounds the goalkeeper before sliding towards the bottom corner, but Ba is on hand to make a goal-saving clearance.
There is no question that Eibar have made much the better start to this match.
Rayo just cannot seem to get hold of the ball at the moment as Eibar continue to pass and probe in the final third. Everything has stuck with Eibar forward Piovaccari in the opening nine minutes.
Rayo have a problem here as Baena hits the deck and stays there following an aerial challenge.
It does appear that Baena will be fit to continue following a period of treatment. He was actually caught by his teammate Bueno. Eibar remain in control of the possession with 11 minutes on the clock.
Just a few signs that the visitors are warming to their task here, but Eibar have had the game's standout chance thus far. Manucho has just started to see a lot of the ball for the visitors.
CHANCE! Another excellent chance for the home side as Piovaccari meets a cross from the left, but his effort is straight at Alvarez. Eibar are a serious threat in attack at the moment.
The Rayo supporters have turned up in their numbers this evening and have made their presence known in the opening 15 minutes. Still no goals to report, but Eibar again come close as Saul cuts inside before firing wide of the far post. Can the home side make the most of their pressure here?
Eibar again threaten on the counter attack, but Saul cannot slide a pass into Piovaccari, who had pulled into a wide position. Rayo are straight down the other end with Bueno, but the home side have numbers back.
Half-chance for Rayo this time as Insua delivers a super cross from the left, but it is deflected into the arms of Eibar goalkeeper Jaime. Manucho was ready to pounce on that low ball. Still goalless here.
You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - will be vital in this type of match. Eibar have had the two best chances thus far, but Rayo have a serious threat on the counter attack that is for certain. Saul is causing Rayo all sorts of problems on the left at the moment.
CHANCE! Super chance for Rayo this time as Jaime can only punch a corner straight into Jozabed, who fires one towards the bottom corner, but Jaime is on hand to make a really smart low save. All happening now!
Rayo are just starting to take control of this match in terms of possession.
Neither side looks too secure at the back this evening and therefore I would be astounded if it finished goalless. I hope that I have not just cursed it! Still goalless with 25 minutes played.
CHANCE! Eibar again come close to taking the lead as Saul finds the head of Boveda with a super free kick, but the Spaniard can only head just wide of the post. Real let-off for Rayo there!
Capa takes matters into his own hands for Eibar as he dances through a host of challenges before advancing into the Rayo box, but his low effort was always moving wide of the post. Somehow still level.
Rayo just cannot deal with Saul at the moment as the Spaniard continues to find space in a wide area. Piovaccari is also having a strong game for the home side, with Rayo slightly untidy in defensive areas. The opening 30 minutes of this La Liga contest have absolutely flown past tonight.
Rayo defender Tito is almost playing as a right winger at the moment, which is leaving all sorts of place for Saul down the other end. Surely Paco Jemez has to change that. Rayo's right is so open!
Manucho demonstrates his power in the air as he meets a swinging free kick from Jozabed, but the referee blows for a free kick. Moments later, Bueno fires high and wide of the crossbar for the visitors.
PENALTY EIBAR!
The home side are awarded a penalty as Alvarez brings Piovaccari to the ground inside the box.
GOAL! Eibar 1-0 Rayo (Arruabarrena, pen)
Arrubaarrena fires his penalty into the top corner to send Eibar into the lead. It was a poor challenge from Rayo goalkeeper Alvarez, who came and got absolutely nowhere near the ball.
BOOKING! Alvarez (Rayo) was booked for the foul that led to the penalty.
SUB! Rayo are making an early change here as Insua is replaced by Nacho. It looks to be a tactical sub rather than an enforced one. Rayo have been all over the place at the back in the opening 38 minutes.
GOAL! Eibar 1-1 Rayo (Bueno)
Equaliser! Rayo level the scores with 40 minutes on the clock as Bueno heads a super Tito cross into the far corner. Bueno is having an excellent season and that is an excellent goal! All square.
Rayo are now on the front foot in the latter stages of this first period.
GOAL! Eibar 1-2 Rayo (Manucho)
What about that then! The Rayo supporters have been sent absolutely potty as Manucho heads a Jozabed corner into the back of the net. Wonderfully strong header from the powerful forward!
Eibar just need to be really careful in the final moments of this first period. Rayo have their tails up at the moment and look a threat each time they break forward. This is a super game at the moment.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute.
HALF-TIME: Eibar 1-2 Rayo
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Rayo leading 2-1. It was the home side that opened the scoring after 35 minutes courtesy of a penalty from Arruabarrena, but goals from Bueno and Manucho completed the turnaround. It has been a really entertaining first period here!
STATS! Rayo have dominated the possession with 66%, while they have had five attempts - three of which have been on target. Eibar, meanwhile, have hit the target with two of their four attempts. There has been just the one booking, with Rayo goalkeeper Alvarez carded for conceding the penalty.
BENCH WATCH! Eibar have carried a real threat in the final third this evening, but should head coach Garitano wish to alter proceedings in the second period, he has the likes of Abraham, Manu del Moral and Javi Lara in reserve. Rayo, meanwhile, have already been forced into one change, with Nacho entering the field in place of Insua. However, Paco Jemez still has the likes of Javier Aquino, Lica and Miku on the bench tonight.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Eibar recover from those two late first-half goals? The visitors get the second 45 minutes underway here.
No changes from either side at the break, which is not too surprising at this stage of proceedings. However, I suspect that alterations will occur as the second period gathers pace here.
You just get the feeling that Eibar need to score the next goal this evening if they are to stand a chance of turning this one around. Their confidence is low as it is and the two late goals in the first period will not have helped. It has been a fairly low-key start to the second 45 minutes thus far.
It is all a little untidy at the moment as both sides continue to relinquish possession in the middle of the park. Eibar manage to break down the right, but Saul's cross is cleared by Ba. I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals this evening, especially at this early stage.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Rayo have the ball in the back of the net as Manucho converts from close range, but the flag had been raised. The visitors are looking the most likely to add a third here.
Rayo are on a bit of a roll at the moment in terms of results, while Eibar have not recorded all three points in the league since January 10. It is a massive final 35 minutes in this La Liga contest.
BOOKING! Manucho (Rayo) has been booked for dissent.
BOOKING! Piovaccari (Eibar) is booked for a late challenge on Ba.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes and in truth, Rayo are fairly comfortable as we approach the final 30 minutes of action. Can Eibar find a route back into the match?
BOOKING! Anibarro (Eibar) is booked for a late challenge on Jozabed.
SUB! Rayo make their second change of the match as Fatau replaces Baena.
SUB! Eibar make a double change as Manu del Moral and Lara replace Capa and Errasti.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last five minutes or so, with both sides guilty of losing possession in the final third. Rayo remain a threat on the counter, but the choice of pass has been disappointing in the second period. Little under 25 minutes of football remaining in this La Liga contest.
Manucho remains a threat for the away side, but the striker is penalised for handball and Eibar regain control of the possession. In truth, not too much is happening at the moment here.
Half-chance for Rayo as Manucho works the ball into Bueno, who turns inside the box, but his low strike was always moving wide of the post. Still 2-1 Rayo with little over 20 minutes of football remaining.
BOOKING! Tito (Rayo) is booked for a late challenge on Capa.
Half-chance for Eibar this time as Lara stands over a free kick outside the box, but his effort was always curling into the arms of the goalkeeper. That has been the story of the second period.
SUB! Eibar make their third change as Lekic replaces Arruabarrena.
Half-chance for Rayo as Embarba finds space inside the Eibar box, but his low strike was always moving wide of the post. Apologises for the lack of updates (in-depth at least). Connection problems!
CHANCE! Manucho comes close to scoring his second of the night after meeting a super free kick from Jozabed, but Jaime is across his goal to make an excellent save. Some goalkeeping there!
SUB! Rayo make their third change as Morcillo replaces Ze Castro.
CHANCE! Eibar might not get a better chance to level this game! Manu del Moral finds all sorts of space inside the Rayo box, but his low effort is wide of the post. What an opportunity.
Little over three minutes of normal time remaining and Eibar continue to press forward, but Rayo have defended pretty well in this second period. Time is running out for the home side on their own patch.
CHANCE! Saul remains a threat for Eibar as he finds space in a wide area before delivering, but Tito is on hand to clear for a corner. The resulting set piece causes concern inside the box, but Tito manages to head off the line. Excellent defending from the Rayo skipper!
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional four minutes this evening.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Eibar to equalise as Piovaccari meets a high ball inside the box, but somehow Alvarez makes the save. Just stunning goalkeeping from the Argentine!
Rayo are living a charmed life at the moment!
BOOKINGS! Vila and Navas (Eibar) are both booked in quick succession. It does appear that Rayo are going to win this game, but I am not sure how! Eibar have been on the front foot in the latter stages and really should be level! Little over one minute remaining here.
RED CARD! NAVAS! Eibar are reduced to 10 men as Navas is sent from the field for a late challenge on Bueno. It was a second yellow card for the Spanish defender.
FULL-TIME: Eibar 1-2 Rayo
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Rayo running out 2-1 winners at Eibar. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
