Eibar vs Celta Vigo preview - Eibar eyeing more home improvements

Posted Sunday, April 19, 2015 by PA

Eibar coach Gaizka Garitano believes his side are starting to find their feet again at their Ipurua ground, and hopes their upturn in form continues when they host Celta Vigo on Sunday.

The Basque side lost five home games in a row before ending their barren run by beating Malaga 1-0 at Ipurua and against Celta will be searching for another victory that would take them six points clear of the relegation zone.

"We have to take our matches with Rayo (a narrow 2-1 defeat) and Malaga as a reference point," Garitano told the club's official website.

"We have been committing fewer errors and creating more chances recently, and we are attacking in greater numbers. We've conceded quite a lot of goals in Ipurua but lately we have been more level-headed. We have been stronger and made more passes, we have not been so hasty. That is the path we must follow".

The Galicians head to the Basque country fresh from thrashing Rayo Vallecano 6-1, and Garitano knows his side will have their work cut out against Eduardo Berizzo's men.

"Celta are one of those teams that are much lower in the table than they should be, considering the quality they have," he said.

But he added: "If we play well and give a good showing of ourselves, Celta will find it difficult.

"We will alternate between direct and collective play so we do not become predictable."

Eibar are without goalkeeper Jaime Jimenez, who has a back injury, and Angel Rodriguez, but Dani Garcia and Raul Navas have recovered from injuries.

Carles Planas and Borja Oubina are still injured for Celta, while Berizzo has left David Costas and Levy Madinda out of his squad for the trip. However, Nemanja Radoja and Pablo Hernandez return from suspension.

Celta's extraordinary win over Rayo took them on to 39 points for the season, and Berizzo is eyeing another victory to all but seal survival and also launch a late push to try to finish seventh and qualify for the Europa League.

He told a press conference: "If we win we will reach 42 points and that traditionally means survival, and we'll also be within our rights to hope of moving up to seventh place."