War of the worlds in Eibar

"To talk about budgets is to start to lose the match," is the philosophy of Eibar coach Gaizka Garitano, a true club man. The town will throw up the bunting for the arrival of Real Madrid, but the match will little resemble a friendly: the little fish wants to have the big fish for lunch, as though a particular war of the worlds is on the table (at least in terms of numbers the two sides are from different planets) but one in which eager enthusiasm will be the principle weapon of the home side. Eibar's is the smallest budget in the league, at 15.6 million euros. Real's is the largest, at 530 million.

But the chasm in resources between the two sides does not translate to the league table: Eibar have amassed only 14 fewer points than Madrid of the 33 available, even if Cristiano Ronaldo has scored five more goals than The Armourers combined. But nothing can dampen Eibar's spirit after the club's extraordinary rise from Segunda B to Primera, the realization of a dream in the club's 74-year history.

That's why there will be a fiesta in Eibar. Saturday's match more than ever puts Eibar on the footballing map. So much so that the team will sport the name of a Chinese brand on their shorts just for this game; Tuhu will temporarily replace Wiko, the usual name emblazoned thereon.

A multitude of claret-and-blue flags have been placed around the city. The pedestrian crossings have been retouched in the team's colours. A local bakery is making a giant cake weighing 100 kilos, with meringue as one of the ingredients. The message is clear: "We're going to eat Real Madrid, up Eibar."

Eibar hope the party atmosphere will extend to the pitch, where Ronaldo earns more than the entire Eibar squad and paradoxically only one player (according to Uefa regulations stating a player between 15 and 21 with more three years in the youth ranks qualifies) only Ander Capa is strictly home-grown, although Xabi Irureta, Irazusta y Txema Añibarro also came through the ranks. There are three nationalities among the home side, while Madrid have 10. Money against hard work, globalism against local produce, the obligation to win against the desire to do so... Ipurua is the stage for a war of the worlds.

from Últimas noticias | Diario AS http://ift.tt/1qMerbP

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