"The miracle continues, " grins Eibar president Alex Arranzabal soon after its best result of the season -- a 5-2 home win over relegation rivals Almeria.
In the Basque hill town of Eibar, near Bilbao, six bespoke manufacturers--among them Aguirre y Aranzabal, Grulla Armas and Kemen--lie within walking distance of one another.
But after a share issue attracted pledges from all over the world, Eibar was able to take its place in the top flight and underline its commitment to financial prudence.
But as the season nears its half way mark, Eibar has nudged its way into the top half of the table and is proving a beacon of fastidiousness in a league that has long sagged heavily with debt.