Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, S.A.D. began 2013 in Segunda División B — Spain’s third division — they will begin 2015 in the Primera División — La Liga.

Eibar joined La Liga this season alongside Córdoba and Deportivo La Coruña but that is where the clubs’ similarities end. Córdoba are by no means giants of the Spanish game but were Primera División regulars in the 60s and have spent the past 7 seasons in the Segunda. Deportivo, you’ll no doubt have heard of though, as they reached the Champions League semi-final stage as recently as 2004. Depor have only spent two of the last 24 seasons in the second division. By contrast it is only by consecutive promotions that Eibar reach Spain’s top flight, and for the first time in the club’s 64-year history.

Córdoba is an Andalusian city with a population of little over 300,000; 21,822 of which could pack themselves into Estadio Nuevo Arcángel where Córdoba CF play their home games. A Coruña — home of Deportivo — is similarly endowed with civilians, housing nearly 250,000 of them whilst the Basque city of Eibar is home to less than 30,000 people (27,507 as of 2012). Theoretically, then, the Riazor — Deportivo’s stadium — could accommodate everyone in Eibar and there’d still be more empty seats than on a European night at the Etihad.

Eibar are the smallest ever team to compete in La Liga despite the best efforts of the RFEF — Spain’s Football Association. The Real Federación Española de Fútbol demanded Eibar cough up 1.7 million euros as a sort of Liga buy-in. An effective crowd-sourcing campaign saw thousands buy stakes in the club to raise these funds and, somewhat incredulously, Eibar are currently eating their just desserts at Spain’s top table.

This story is remarkable in its own right and following this improbable rise, little more was expected of the minnows than turning up on time without forgetting their kits on 38 occasions before they returned to whence they came happier for the experience. Whilst this might seem patronising to a team that topped the second division, the expectations were nothing if not realistic.

La Liga can be a merciless place. Hidings are dished out on a weekly basis, with big boys Real Madrid and Barcelona the bullies supreme. After 7 matchdays, Real and Barca have each won by a margin of 4 or more goals three times already, whilst Malaga, Levante, Getafe, Córdoba, Sevilla and Deportivo have all lost by margins of 3 or more to teams other than Real and Barca. With established outfits such as these taking hammerings from sides around them, Eibar fans and players may well have expected to lose most weeks and lose heavily most of those weeks.

It is unexpected, then, that at this stage Eibar’s Liga record reads W:2 D:3 L:2 and they sit ninth in the table with a positive goal difference. They beat Real Sociedad on the opening weekend, then succumbed to a narrow defeat at Atletico the next. A Monday night game against fellow newcomers Deportivo delivered their second defeat as they conceded to Depor’s only shot on target before they themselves inflicted defeat on Elche in their second away game of the season, keeping a clean sheet despite heavy pressure. Three draws have followed — at home to Villarreal, away at Athletic Bilbao and against Levante at Ipurua.

Nine points from seven games is far from relegation form but the numbers do not tell the entirety of the story and belie what makes Eibar’s season, so far, a truly remarkable one.

Not only was Javi Lara’s winner against La Real a spectacular free-kick, but that Carlos Vela and co. were denied a goal in this game was made more impressive by the four Real Sociedad put past Real Madrid a week later.

Eibar’s loss at the Vicente Calderón was almost a draw, but Angel spurned a glorious chance at the death. The goal they did score in that game wasn’t too shabby either; Abraham’s gorgeous finish showing that the Basques possess some genuine quality. Another accomplished shot from range proved to be the winner against Elche, questionable refereeing decisions played their part in this win but one cannot say luck has been on Eibar’s side.

A ricochet saw the ball fall kindly to Victor Camarasa, who put Levante 2–0 up on matchday 7. These things even themselves up, well they did in this match anyway as Pedro López was unfortunate to put the ball past his own goalkeeper to give Gaizka Garitano’s men a lifeline.

What happened next you’ve probably already seen. Saul’s wonderstrike to level game was one of the goals of the weekend and has been around the globe but devoid of context, it’s simply a great goal. The fact is Eibar aren’t supposed to be doing this sort of thing. They’re the league’s smallest ever team with the lowest budget in the division and were playing third division football just last year. They are expected to roll over or at best scrap for a draw but they keep on producing quality goals and performances — it is almost inexplicable.

At two-all a trademark Liga linesman error prevented Eibar from taking the lead and completing an extraordinary turnaround and when late on Levante scored a third Saúl’s heroics looked in vain. The side showed incredible mental fortitude to be dealt such a hand then respond once more, Piovicarri’s neat swivel and finish clinching a point that perhaps should have been three.

It is this incredible desire and belief that when coupled with the amazing quality of players such as Javi Lara might see Eibar remain a La Liga club this season, which would have been a fanciful prospect 18 months ago. Eibar are defying the odds in style.

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