César Palacios’ second-year bets pay off for Eibar’s push

Eibar is sending strong signals in the standings with César Palacios credited as one of the driving forces behind their run at the top from Ipurua. MARCA, in a report, links the club’s momentum and “leadership” to how Palacios’s team has used every available resource.

Why year two matters

Since Palacios arrived, only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid have collected more points across professional football than Eibar. The piece also argues that some signings don’t immediately hit the highest level from day one, but improve sharply in their second season: Jonmi Magunagoitia and Jon Guruzeta are highlighted, and both are expected to draw interest from 2027, when they will be free to negotiate.

This year, the same pattern is said to apply to Adu Ares, Magunazelaia, Aleix Garrido and Álvaro Rodríguez. While their first campaign was uneven for some, the article says this season they’ve become fundamental, with Magunazelaia singled out after being sidelined during last season’s second half.