Eibar vs Granada Predictions

• Eibar go into this Friday’s fixture 16^th in the table and just two points above the relegation zone, after picking up just one point from their last five La Liga matches.
• The hosts have lost four of their last five matches at Ipurua, and have kept just one clean sheet in eight home games this term.
• Granada are still sitting 9^th in the table; however they are also struggling for form. Nazaries have lost five of their last seven league outings and their last four away on the bounce.
• The visitors have drawn a blank in their last two away fixtures, though they did manage to net in their previous six on the road, and have scored in 14 of their 17 league matches overall this season.

Eibar hoping to build on San Mames point

Last weekend’s 0-0 stalemate away to Athletic Bilbao was definitely a step back in the right direction for struggling Eibar, and although they went on to sweep aside third tier SD Logrones 0-5 in the Copa Del Rey on Tuesday evening, more evidence of a revival from Jose Luis Mendilibar’s men is needed in the coming weeks before they can be classed as a feasible betting proposition again in La Liga.

Eibar lost four league matches on the spin prior to picking up a point at San Mames, and they have now scored just one goal in their last five La Liga outings.

Los Armeros have been extremely solid and reliable at home in recent seasons, but their form at Ipurua has truly gone awry this term, with five defeats suffered from eight games including four from their last five outings.

Mendilibar’s side have failed to score in four of their last five at home and defensively they have also been poor in their own backyard, with 15 goals conceded in total and just one clean sheet mustered in eight.

A decent opportunity for Granada

Granada have to be content overall with their top half position going into the Christmas period, but recent form is definitely a concern for Nazaries, who travel to Ipurua on the back of five La Liga defeats in seven.

Last weekend’s 1-2 reverse against Levante at Los Carmenes was the latest set-back suffered by Diego Martinez’ side, and the result was a bitter pill to swallow as they looked on course for a share of the spoils before Enis Bardhi bagged the winner for Granotas in the 89^th minute.

It’s important to consider though that Granada have had to deal with some tricky fixtures over the past few weeks, taking on the likes of Real Sociedad (1-2), Valencia (2-0), Athletic Bilbao (2-0) and Atletico Madrid (1-1) – teams all currently positioned in the top eight.

While they would have expected better from last weekend’s clash against Levante, this Friday’s encounter against Eibar presents Nazaries with a decent opportunity to get their campaign back on track.

Bank on Granada to hit the net

It’s hard to be confident about either of these sides at the moment, but we think it is worth backing Granada to score over 0.5 goals in this Matchday 18 opener.

Nazaries have drawn a blank in their last two away matches against Valencia and Athletic Bilbao, but they scored in all of their previous six outings on the road this season, netting 13 times in total across those games.

Last season’s Segunda runners-up have only failed to score in three of their 17 La Liga matches overall this term and rate as good value to strike against an Eibar side who have kept just one clean sheet from eight at Ipurua this term. The hosts have conceded 11 in their last five home games and clearly look vulnerable up against this talented Granada attack.

In terms of the result, we’re giving our tentative vote to the draw. Eibar are impossible to fancy for the win based on recent form, yet Granada are equally unappealing after so many defeats since the beginning of November. Based on our fancy for Granada to score and the fact that Eibar have averaged just under one goal per game this season, 1-1 is our correct score pick.