FC Andorra Stumbles 0-1 to Eibar, Ending Unbeaten Streak
Peru Nolaskoain's set-piece header exploits hosts' weakness despite their possession dominance; Tricolors stay eight points clear of relegation with 39 points.
Key Points
- FC Andorra lost 0-1 to Eibar at home, ending four-match unbeaten streak.
- Peru Nolaskoain scored winning header from 38th-minute corner despite Andorra's possession dominance.
- Andorra remain 15th with 39 points, eight clear of relegation; Eibar climb with back-to-back away wins.
- Coach Manso frustrated with refereeing but attributes loss to poor game reading.
FC Andorra fell 0-1 at home to Eibar on Sunday, ending a four-match unbeaten streak but holding an eight-point lead over the relegation zone with 39 points.
Peru Nolaskoain headed the winner in the 38th minute from a corner, flicked on by Arbilla, as the visitors exploited a set-piece weakness despite Andorra's dominance in possession. The Tricolors struggled to break down Eibar's compact defense, which conceded just four goals in its previous nine games and ranked third for fewest conceded overall.
Coach Carles Manso rested key players Carrique and Molina at the start, with Petxa and Jastin stepping in. Andorra created early chances—Minsu missed from close range after Petxa's run, Jastin shot narrowly wide—but failed to convert. Eibar nearly doubled the lead before halftime, hitting the woodwork twice through Ares and Corpas.
Substitutions at the break brought on Molina and Yeray, followed by Carrique and Olabarrieta later, but attacks grew horizontal and sterile. Yeray tested the keeper from distance, and Cerdà had the clearest second-half effort, but Eibar managed the game effectively. Manu Nieto, back from knee ligament injury, came on late.
Referee Alonso de Ena Wolf issued multiple yellows, including to Manso, Owono, and several Andorrans, prompting post-match frustration from the coach. "Some of the officiating trio need to watch their arrogance in how they treat you," Manso said, calling for more empathy without using it as an excuse. Defender Diego Alende echoed that the loss stemmed from poor reading of the game against a solid opponent, not officiating.
The 2,421 fans at Nou Estadi de la FAF saw Andorra drop to 15th, with home form remaining balanced at 20 points from 15 games. Eibar, now with back-to-back away wins, climbed standings.
Pre-match optimism centered on reaching 50 points for safety, with Manso stressing patience against Eibar's defensive strength and poor away record. Recoveries of Nieto, Martí Vilà, Théo Le Normand, and Jastin boosted options, though Edgar González and Álex Calvo remained out.
FC Andorra, owned by Gerard Piqué and Jaume Nogués with Manso leading the staff, next visit Cultural Leonesa on Sunday at 4:15pm—the side that eliminated them from the Copa del Rey earlier this season.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- Diari d'Andorra•
La derrota contra l’Eibar no taca el camí per a l’Andorra
- Bon Dia•
L'FC Andorra segueix tenint el descens a vuit punts
- Altaveu•
Quan el domini no troba escletxes a Encamp
- Diari d'Andorra•
L’Andorra s’encalla contra l’Eibar (0-1)
- El Periòdic•
Manso lamenta l’actuació arbitral: “Algun de la tripleta ha d’anar amb compte amb la supèrbia com et tracten”
- El Periòdic•
L’FC Andorra cau contra l’Eibar i trenca la bona dinàmica en un partit decidit a pilota aturada abans del descans
- Diari d'Andorra•
Un gris FC Andorra cau a Encamp contra l'Eibar (0-1)
- Altaveu•
L'FC Andorra es queda sense idees davant la muralla de l'Eibar
- Diari d'Andorra•
Paciència, la clau davant l’Eibar
- El Periòdic•
L’FC Andorra s’encomana a la continuïtat perquè “ens ha donat bons resultats i creiem que és el camí”
- Altaveu•
L'FC Andorra vol fer de l'estadi d'Encamp un fortí per acostar la permanència