Football Season Guide

It will be very difficult for Eibar to replicate their incredible 2016/17 season in which they finished in 10th place in the La Liga table, the best ever result in their history. That said, we should know by now that Eibar are never to be underestimated, with this team from a town of just 27,000 people shocking the footballing world year after year. Each summer they lose their best players and it has been no different this time around, with star centre-back Florian Lejeune picked up by Newcastle United and with fellow starters Adrian Gonzalez and Antonio Luna also having moved on during the summer months too. However, each summer they always seem to unearth some hidden gems thanks to the excellent work of their sporting director Fran Garagarza so there is some hope in the Basque valley that the likes of Paulo Oliveira, Joan Jordan, Jose Angel and Charles will all come good and lock up spots in the starting line-up. Goalkeeper, Marko Dmitrovic, has also been signed but his arrival was not an expected one and he has only come in because starting shot-stopper Yoel Rodriguez suffered a serious injury during the summer and he'll, therefore, miss half the season. Frustratingly for Eibar coach Jose Luis Mendilibar, Yoel is not the only player who'll miss the start of the upcoming campaign, with Eibar having suffered a number of bumps and bruises already including last year's attacking revelation Pedro Leon. Once those starters return, then Eibar should be able to count on one of the best starting line-ups in the country and they are always well organised thanks to Mendilibar’s simple and effective 4-2-3-1, led by the clinical Sergi Enrich or Kike. Scratch below the surface though and Eibar don't boast much depth which could make every injury or suspension a significant one.