THE DIFFICULTY OF SCORING GOALS AGAINST IBIZA

In the Spanish Segunda B Division only five teams have conceded fewer goals than the islanders.

Ibiza's good showing in the first half of the season rests on the solid performances from the defence right up until the attack. The islanders are one of the most defensively solid teams in the division. In the Spanish Segunda B Division only five teams (San Fernando, Cartagena, Badajoz, Olot y Baleares) have conceded fewer goals than the islanders. Pablo Alfaro's side conceded a total of thirteen goals so far, the same amount as Sabadell, the leading team in group III. The average of 0,72 conceded per game speaks highly of the defensive work shown by the squad in this season's matches so far allowing the attacking players to shine (29 goals scored in 18 matches with 1,6 goals scored per game).

Being hard to break down is on of the virtues shown by Ibiza so far. It's a collective team effort, however, starting from the goalkeeping position. Alfaro made it clear during preseason that both goalkeepers would get their opportunities over the course of the season. Starting off in goals was Germán Parreño who played the first six matches of the season. After that it was Lucas Anacker's chance. The Brazilian, in his second season at the club, played five consecutive rounds as a starter, showing his strong reflexes already witness in the closing stages of last season. Following that run of appearances, it was once again time for Germán to stand between the goalposts in the derby against Peña Deportiva. Both keepers, accompanied in training sessions by Jorge Chanza, Ibiza's third choice goalkeeper who plays with the affiliate team of Sant Rafel in the Third Division, are performing at a very high level. They are protected by a strong defensive unit which, apart from the left-back position (Morillas is Ibiza's only footballer who has played all minutes of the 18 matches so far), has seen a number of rotations over the course of the matches played to date. A similar story can be told for the defensive midfield position: despite being the usually preferred option, Núñez has shared playing minutes with Toni Arranz, two players who complement each other very well. The objective, as stated several times by the head coach, is to have as many players performing on all cylinders. To do that, you need to have a fully functional team where each player knows his individual and collective role, a fact that is reflected by numbers: eight matches without conceding, a further eight matches only conceding one goal (only Las Palmas B and Atlético B managed to score two or three goal, respectively; in matches which Ibiza narrowly lost by the smallest of margins), stats which are similar at the home fortress of Can Misses (six goals conceded) and away from home (seven)... With just over half of the season to go, there is enough time left for Ibiza to continue its positive run of results, fortifying its solid construct in all positions across the pitch.