Córdoba claim fifth win on Iván Ania’s 49th birthday

Córdoba marked Iván Ania’s birthday with their fifth victory of the season, beating Eibar after scoring twice in six minutes following the break. The coach turned 49 that day; Marca described the win as probably dedicated to him, rather than presenting that as certain. Eder García and Percan supplied the goals that shifted the match in Córdoba’s favour.

The game had begun at a lively pace. Aleix Garrido and Carracedo soon tested the goalkeepers, but Iker Álvarez and Jonmi Magunagoitia both dealt with their efforts. Córdoba had not yet found the accuracy to turn its chances into goals. After the interval, however, the side made its opportunities count and established a decisive advantage within a short spell.

Eder García opened the scoring with a header, meeting Ghailan’s delivery as he arrived from deep. Soon afterwards, Percan collected another Ghailan pass inside the area and finished with a low, angled shot. The two-goal burst put Córdoba in a position to manage its lead, although Eibar continued to look for a way back.

Eibar tried to get back into the contest, but Rubén Alves turned away a good chance from Jon Guruzeta. Eder García then came close to scoring a second, only to hit the post. Magunagoitia also kept Damián Cáceres out with a double save, preventing Córdoba from making it 3-0. Those opportunities did not change the outcome, but they showed that Eibar kept searching for an opening after conceding twice.

The result also matters in light of the teams’ recent form. Marca notes that Eibar have now gone three matchdays without a win, following a run of seven consecutive victories. Córdoba, meanwhile, have added a fifth win to their season tally. The quick scoring spell after half-time turned a closely contested opening into a successful occasion for Ania’s side.

Before the match, the coach had described Eibar’s form as “very good” and expected them to stick with their approach, including pressing. He had also discussed the squad’s fitness: compared with the trip to Leganés, he would neither have a player back nor lose one. Víctor Sánchez, however, was “fully recovered” and available to start or come on during the game.

Ania had also pointed to a key area for improvement: protecting his team’s goal more effectively. “Keeping a clean sheet is fundamental,” he said, linking that aim to reducing the gap between goals scored and conceded. In his view, that did not mean abandoning the team’s style or becoming more defensive: “We simply have to concede fewer chances to the opposition.” He tied that improvement to the target of reaching 15 points and bringing the team closer to the level he wants.