Eibar go joint top in La Liga after first win over Athletic Bilbao
Eibar recorded a first ever league victory over Athletic Bilbao to go joint top of the Primera Division. Saul Berjon opened the scoring from the penalty spot while Adrian Gonzalez scored his first goal for his new club in the second half to cap a 2-0 win for Jose Mendilibar’s […]

Eibar recorded a first ever league victory over Athletic Bilbao to go joint top of the Primera Division.

Saul Berjon opened the scoring from the penalty spot while Adrian Gonzalez scored his first goal for his new club in the second half to cap a 2-0 win for Jose Mendilibar’s side, following a 3-1 success at Granada in their season curtain raiser.

Athletic were in Europa League action on Thursday and looked drained in what was their eighth game of the season in all competitions.

Eibar overpowered Ernesto Valverde’s men in midfield and started putting them under pressure early on. Saul Berjon forced a save from Athletic stopper Gorka Iraizoz after a quarter of an hour and from the resulting corner defender Mauro dos Santos forced the custodian into another quick-reaction save to turn away the Brazilian’s header.

The hosts were awarded a penalty shortly after the half hour mark when Laporte lost the ball in his area and clumsily tripped Sergi Enrich. Berjon powered past Iraizoz from the spot to give Eibar a deserved lead.

Iraizoz was called into action again in the second half to keep out a shot from Keko with his legs, but was beaten for a second time by Adrian’s header from the subsequent corner.

Even with a two goal cushion, Eibar did not relent, and only further saves from Iraizoz to deny Dos Santos for a second time and Borja Baston denied them a third goal.