A highly anticipated match is set for next Saturday as Deportivo Eldense hosts Amorebieta at Nuevo Pepico Amat. Kickoff is at 14:00, with many local supporters from Elda expected to be in attendance. The encounter carries a note of revenge for Eldense, who earned promotion to League Two in contrasting fashions: Eldense climbed through the playoff route, while Amorebieta sealed direct promotion by finishing at the top of their group.
Although both teams concluded the regular season with identical points and Eldense held the goal difference edge in the head-to-head clashes, Amorebieta prevailed in their direct confrontations under the guidance of Haritz Mújika. The Guipuzcoan coach took charge after two seasons in the Segunda División and, facing a precarious start the previous year, the club showed faith in him and rose to the top tier, returning to Spain’s second division.
Earlier in the campaign, Eldense and Amorebieta met for the first time in their history on the 16th matchday, also at the Barça stadium. On a chilly December afternoon, Rayco Rodríguez’s late strike stunned the near thousand spectators gathered there. Yet Soberón equalized for Fernando Estévez’s side in the 89th minute, earning a point and keeping Amorebieta on their climb toward the leading pack; the Basque club continued its steady ascent in the rankings.
Eldense’s challenge to defend their fortress
The second leg told a different story. Amorebieta arrived with a four-point cushion atop the table and five clear of Eldense, having settled in a trusted, hopeful position weeks earlier. The Basque side showed resolve from the start, and although the match finished 1-0 in Eldense’s favor, Mújika’s squad sensed an opportunity to challenge for the upper places.
As days passed, Eldense’s wobble grew with draws against Alcoyano, UD Logroñés, and Barça B, while Amorebieta converted their chances and extended their campaign’s momentum. In the final stretch of the season, the logical outcome emerged: Amorebieta finished second, while Eldense faced a dramatic playoff route that pitted them against Celta and Real Madrid’s affiliates, culminating in a return to the second division after 59 years.
Eldense’s mood under pressure
The current standings show Amorebieta positioned just a few points from relegation danger, while Deportivo Eldense, now aware of the critical nature of direct results, seeks to win head-to-head duels to avoid a late-season scramble. Amorebieta has struggled away from Lezama, collecting only a single point in six road matches, and their most recent away game ended in a 6-0 defeat. Haritz Mújika’s men travel to Elda with urgency, aiming to reconnect with safety and claim a first away win of the campaign.
Barça’s current momentum
Barça has built confidence by recovery rather than mere accumulation of points, taking five of the last nine available and a recent run that included a win in Huesca and draws with Elche and Racing de Ferrol, followed by a three-game winning streak. This will be Fernando Estévez’s first of two home matches, with Burgos visiting in the next round as well. As the Granada coach often says, every game is a new test, and this fixture places unfinished business in the spotlight.
In this scenario, Eldense holds a chance to shift the balance outright, striking decisively against their opponent. The supporters understand the stakes, and even when the atmosphere at the stadium isn’t ideal, they expect a strong start. Nuevo Pepico Amat’s average attendance to date sits around 4,171, reflecting solid local backing.