Another pivotal day for Eldense comes as the club chases glory in a season that has fans buzzing. This Thursday at 21:00, Eldense, the leaders of their First RFEF group, host Athletic Bilbao at Pepico Amat with a full house expected. The cup fixture promises drama, as the Basque giants arrive with strong support and a history of exciting performances, making this match one of the most anticipated moments in Eldense’s long cup run.
For Eldense, Pepico Amat will test their metal in a knockout-format clash where they have shown resilience in away ties, having gone 17 matches without defeat outside the finals and maintaining league staying power for nearly two decades. The home crowd will seek to push the team toward another memorable cup night.
Their recent opponents illustrate the path to the last 32: a 0-2 victory over Valencia Alzira and a 0-1 win against Sestao River, both triumphs that propelled the Basque side to this stage and showcased their capacity to rise to the occasion when the stadium is packed and the stakes are high.
Alicante club sporting director Víctor Lafuente emphasized that after knocking out Burgos in the second round, Athletic recognized that while the Cup is a prestigious prize, anything can happen in a single-elimination match. Eldense will approach the game with the intention of securing a draw and testing the visitors’ resolve.
Eldense is out of paper and Pepico Amat will rally more than 5,000 fans against Athletic
Despite Deportivo’s coach Fernando Estévez choosing a measured tone, the atmosphere in Elda is electric ahead of this cup clash between Eldense and Athletic Club. The sense of occasion fuels belief that a surprising result is possible on home soil.
Player Fran Carnicer expressed the squad’s readiness, saying they are prepared to win, even acknowledging the challenge posed by the Athletic entity. His words summed up the mindset: if they didn’t believe they could win, they wouldn’t go out to play. The message is clear—they will fight for every ball and trust their plan to trouble the visitors.
Coach Fernando Estévez faces squad decisions at midfield, with Pedro Capó and Iván Forte dealing with minor fitness concerns. Athletic Bilbao arrives at Pepico Amat having not conceded in eight consecutive matches, a run that includes three cup qualifiers and several league fixtures where they collected points. The visitors’ defensive discipline will be a key test for Eldense’s attack.
Estévez previewed the encounter with a focus on organization and combativity. He stressed the aim to make the match tough for Athletic and to leverage the home atmosphere to level the playing field against a top-caliber opponent that features multiple international players. He also cautioned against letting Cup fatigue influence the league campaign, acknowledging the prestige and economic relief the trophy provides, but insisting it remain a secondary objective to the club’s broader season plan.
The match represents more than a single result. It is a chance for Eldense to reinforce their status in the competition and to demonstrate how the club’s philosophy translates onto a big stage. As the team prepares, the supporters know they are witnessing a moment that could redefine the club’s trajectory and deepen the sense of pride in the Elda hometown. The players, coaches, and fans alike carry the belief that a bold performance can turn the tide in this high-stakes cup tie, with the outcome potentially setting the tone for the rest of the season [Citation: Eldense club communications].