Eibar — Granada: the leaders travel to Ipurua - 06.09.2026
The fourth round of Spain's Segunda Division brings an intriguing fixture as Eibar host Granada at the Ipurua Stadium on 6 September. If this match initially looked like a close contest between two ambitious teams, the interest has now grown even further. Granada are among the league leaders after three rounds, while Eibar have already shown that they should certainly not be written off. Kick-off is at 14:00 Spanish time.
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Eibar: the character is there, but consistency is still lacking
The Basque side have made an uneven start to the season. In the opening round, Eibar suffered a surprise 3-1 home defeat to Tenerife. However, the team quickly bounced back, narrowly beating Valladolid 1-0 before repeating the same scoreline away against Andorra in the third round. As a result, Eibar have six points from three matches, with a goal difference of 3:3.
The latest victory was particularly impressive. Eibar scored at the start of the second half and then played for more than 30 minutes with 10 men following Jon Magunazelaia's dismissal. Nevertheless, the team held on and kept a clean sheet. New head coach Jokin Aranbarri specifically praised the defensive organisation and the team's ability to protect their penalty area after the match.
That could prove to be the key against Granada. Eibar clearly have no intention of turning this into an open game. With the support of the Ipurua crowd, the hosts will surely look to stay compact, wait for an opponent's mistake and exploit it with quick attacks.
Granada: the biggest surprise of the opening weeks
The visitors' start has been even more impressive. Granada are still unbeaten and have collected seven points. After a goalless draw with Oviedo in the opening round, the team beat Mallorca 2-0 before producing an impressive comeback in Cordoba, winning 3-1. In their latest match, Granada conceded in just the second minute, but completely turned the game around after the break: Dembélé equalised, Jorge Pascual scored the winning goal in the 88th minute, and Alejandro Márquez sealed the victory in stoppage time.
After three rounds, Granada sit top of the table with seven points and a +4 goal difference. The team look very confident and are already playing in a way that matches their ambitions of fighting for a return to La Liga.
Their mentality is also worth highlighting. Pacheta's side have already won a match in which they had to come from behind, showing that this team certainly has plenty of character. At the same time, Granada have scored just five goals in three rounds, so their success has been more about efficiency than an all-out attacking approach.
What can we expect from the match?
A lot could depend on the opening goal. If Eibar score first, the game could turn into a tight defensive battle, with the hosts sitting deep and looking for space. If Granada strike first, the Basque side will have to open up, which could give the visitors plenty of room for counter-attacks.
There is also an interesting detail from their recent history. The teams met at Ipurua last season, when Eibar gave their opponents a real cold shower, winning 3-0. The Basque side completely controlled the game, while Granada created very little in front of goal.
However, repeating that scenario will not be easy this time. Granada come into the match as league leaders, while Eibar have found their rhythm after a disappointing start and have won their last two matches.
My prediction — Both Teams to Score: Yes.
