Did it deliver?
It only partly lived up to its billing. Eibar's 20 shots and 69 dangerous attacks produced a lot of pressure, but the match had just two goals and only one real flash of quality at each end, and the equaliser came very late.
Almería took the lead against the run of play. Quim Junyent scored in the 18th minute, set up by Sergio Arribas, after the visitors had been caught offside three times in the minutes before. Eibar then dominated, finishing with 20 shots to 13, 69 dangerous attacks to 26, and 52% possession with 86% pass accuracy. Their finishing was poor, though: only 4 of those 20 shots were on target and a big chance went begging. Almería defended well, making 17 tackles and 3 saves, and their game became increasingly cautious and niggly, with Marcos Luna, Álex Muñoz, Peru Nolaskoain and Stefan Dzodic all cautioned. The substitutions made the difference. Pejiño, on from the 61st minute, finished off Malcom Adu's assist in the 87th, shortly after Lucas Núñez had fired wide. The point leaves both sides in the middle of the Segunda table. Eibar will feel they should have won given how much of the game they controlled, while Almería will be glad to have taken anything away from home.
Third-placed Eibar host second-placed Almería at a raucous Ipurúa in a clash between two promotion contenders. Almería are three points clear and unbeaten in eight, while Eibar are looking to end a three-game winless run. It should be a tight, high-intensity test for both.
Eibar's most dangerous forward, who can punish Almería if they lose the ball in transition.
Creative midfielder who can help Almería keep possession and unlock a compact Eibar defence.
Forward who can provide the cutting edge for the visitors in a tight game.
Midfield link-up player whose control and passing will matter in the battle for tempo.
SD Eibar
Almería
Almería•MidfielderLeonardo Lelo takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Leonardo Lelo is substituted off for Quim Junyent Casanova.
Substitution: Leonardo Carrilho Baptistao comes on for Miguel De la Fuente.
Shot by Pejino with his left foot results in a goal.
assist: Adu Ares
Goal! Pejino equalizes to make it 1-1, assisted by Malcom Adu.
Mikel Vesga comes on for Javier Munoz Jimenez.
Imanol Garcia de Albeniz comes on for Aleix Garrido.
Lucas Nunez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Alex Sola's right-footed shot is blocked.
Anaitz Arbilla Zabala takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Alex Sola comes on for Sergio Arribas Calvo.
Guilherme Borges Guedes is on, and Brian Cipenga is off.
Lucas Nunez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Malcom Adu takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Lucas Nunez comes on for Ander Madariaga.
Stefan DzodicYellow CardStefan Džodić receives a yellow card.
Yellow card for Nolaskoain Esnal of Peru.
Sergio Arribas Calvo takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Sergio Arribas Calvo takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Shot from Peru's Nolaskoain Esnal with a right-footed attempt, but it’s blocked.
Corner awarded.
Javier Marton takes a shot with his head but misses.
Shot from Ivan Gil with his right foot, but it's blocked.
Malcom Adu takes a right-footed shot that hits the post.
Yellow card shown to Alex Munoz.
Shot from Aleix Garrido is blocked.
Pejino takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Ivan Gil takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Ander Madariaga attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Javier Marton comes on for Jon Bautista.
On comes Pejino, off goes Jon Guruzeta.
Brian Cipenga takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Sergio Arribas Calvo takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Substitution: Chumi comes on for Jorge Pulido Mayoral.
Ivan Gil takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Stefan Džodić attempts a header, but it's blocked.
Offside.
Offside.
First half ends with the score at 0-1.
Anaitz ArbillaYellow CardYellow card shown to Anaitz Arbilla Zabala.
Markel Arana comes on for Juan Bernat.
Aleix GarridoYellow CardYellow card shown to Aleix Garrido.
Corner awarded.
Malcom Adu takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Ivan Gil takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Quim JunyentQuim Junyent Casanova takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
assist: Sergio Arribas
Goal! Quim Junyent Casanova scores to make it 1-0, assisted by Sergio Arribas Calvo.
Offside.
Offside.
Offside.
Shot by Anaitz Arbilla Zabala with his left foot is saved.
Malcom Adu takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Marcos Luna takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Kick-off! The referee is Daniel Miranda Bolano.
