Sports Mole previews Sunday’s La Liga clash between Almeria and Villarreal, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Almeria will attempt to give their incredibly slim hopes of La Liga survival a boost when they host Villarreal at Power Horse Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The home side are bottom of the division, 14 points from the safety of 17th, while Villarreal sit in ninth, eight points behind seventh-placed Valencia in the race for Europe.
Match Preview
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Almeria won’t give up until their relegation has been mathematically confirmed, but it will take one of the biggest turnarounds in top-flight football history for the club to survive in La Liga from this position.
Indeed, an incredibly difficult campaign has seen La Union pick up just 14 points from their 31 league matches, leaving them in 20th position, 14 points from the safety of 17th place.
Pepe Mel has steadied the ship since his arrival as head coach last month, picking up four points from nine available as the team beat Las Palmas, lost to Osasuna and drew with Real Sociedad under the 61-year-old years.
Almeria almost lost to Real Sociedad last time, but Adri Embarba scored a penalty in the 88th minute to level the scores at 2-2, with the division’s basement team securing an impressive point.
UDA have the worst home record in the division this season, picking up just eight points from 15 matches, while Villarreal have been solid on their travels, securing 20 points from 15 away games.
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Villarreal finished fifth in the Spanish top flight last season, but they are currently 18 points behind fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, with the Yellow Submarine having had a largely disappointing campaign.
MarcelinoThe Spanish team still have a chance of winning a European place for next season, but they are eight points behind seventh-placed Valencia, making it unlikely unless there is a huge turnaround.
Villarreal recorded four consecutive wins in La Liga between February 23 and March 17, helping them climb the table, but they were beaten 2-1 at home by Atletico Madrid earlier this month before playing draw 1-1 against Athletic at San Mames. the last time.
The Yellow Submarine are actually unbeaten in their last five away league matches, recording three wins along the way, so they will approach this match with confidence.
Villarreal have also enjoyed their recent encounters with Almeria, recording three consecutive wins in La Liga, while they have not been beaten by their Sunday opponents at this level of football since May 2010.
Almeria La Liga form:
Villarreal form in La Liga:
Villarreal form (all competitions):
Team News
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Almeria will be without the services of three players this weekend due to injury, including Marko Milovanovic, Luis Suarez And Aleksandar Radovanovic on the sidelines.
Gonzalo Meleromeanwhile, is still suspended for the team at the bottom of the division.
Head coach Mel could decide to select the same XI that took the field for the first whistle against Real Sociedad, with Embarba with two goals on the left, while Leo Baptistão should continue as center forward.
As for Villarreal, François Coquelin, Yérémy Pino, Eric Bailly, Juan Foyth And Denis Suarez are absent due to injury, while the visitors will be missing two other players through suspension.
Indeed, Santi Comesana was sent off in the draw against Athletic last time out, while Raoul Albiol received a yellow card which will also exclude him from the competition.
Aïssa Mandi should be introduced in the middle of the defense, while Etienne Capoue should replace Comesana in central midfield, with Dani Parejo also operating in this area.
Almeria possible starting lineup:
Maximian; Pubill, Chumi, Gonzalez, Langa; Robertone, Lopy; Romero, Viera, Embarba; Baptistry
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; Femenia, Mandi, Mosquera, A Moreno; Traoré, Capoué, Parejo, Baena; G Moreno, Sorloth
We say: Almeria 1-2 Villarreal
Almeria are aiming for a first La Liga success against Villarreal in 14 years, but it is difficult to predict a positive result for the basement team. Villarreal are in excellent form on their travels and we are backing the Yellow Submarine to force their way to all three points.
For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.
