Iván Gil completed his first training session of the season with Eibar on Friday morning at Areitio, a day before the club opens its campaign against Deportivo Alavés. It was his first full step into the squad after returning to Ipurua late in the build-up and then waiting until the second week of pre-season to join in.
The timing matters because Eibar reaches its first competitive test still managing a short list of fitness problems. Peru Nolaskoain has already started trotting with the group, Bernat worked at the same pace as his teammates and Jon Guruzeta has been training with the group during the week, but he is still not in full condition to compete. That leaves the coaching staff weighing how much of the group can actually be used on Saturday.
The session at Areitio also showed how uneven the recovery picture remains. Jonmi Magunagoitia missed training because of a muscular overload, Luis López worked on the grass to stay in contact with the ball, and Lander Olaetxea stayed in the gym because of pubic discomfort. Eibar is expected to use two completely different starting lineups, which underlines how early in the season the staff are still sorting out who can handle match load and who cannot.
Gil’s arrival now helps solve one piece of that puzzle. The former UD Las Palmas player finished last season ten days later than most of his teammates because he was still involved in the playoff de ascenso, which explains why his first session came later than the rest of the group. His mood was clear enough in the club’s own words: “Iván is at home.”
There is still a larger question hanging over the opening match against Deportivo Alavés: how many of the recovering players will be ready to matter once the whistle goes. For Eibar, Friday’s training did not answer everything, but it did confirm that Gil is in, while several others are still trying to catch up.
