Prediction: Almeria vs Espanyol

Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw

Best Odds: 5/1

Bookmaker: Betfair

Almeria and Espanyol will face each in La Liga this week. The match between Rojiblancos and Periquitos will be held at the Power Horse Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time on Friday.

Almeria

Almeria won promotion from the Segunda Division to La Liga at the end of last season. La Unión won the second division title last season, and their main objective this campaign is to make sure that they finish above the bottom three. They had been playing in the Segunda Division since the 2015-16 season.

Rubi’s side are 14th in the La Liga table at the moment with 19 points from 18 matches. They are only two points above the relegation zone and are in real danger of going down to Segunda Division at the end of the season. However, that the likes of Sevilla and Getafe are below them in the table at the moment will encourage them.

Almeria will head into the La Liga match against Espanyol at the Power Horse Stadium on Friday evening on the back of a 2-2 draw with Valencia away from home in the league. It followed a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in front of their own fans in the league and came after a 2-0 loss at the hands of Real Sociedad.

Team News:

Almeria manager Rubi does not have any injury problems and will have a full squad to choose from. Leo Baptistao and Largie Ramazani will join El Bilal Toure in the final third of the pitch, while Samu Costa should again feature in a midfield role.

Espanyol

Espanyol finished 14th in the La Liga table last season, and they will be happy if they end up in a similar spot this time around as well. It was an encouraging season for Periquitos when you consider that they had won promotion from the Segunda Division at the end of the 2020-21 season. Espanyol finished bottom of the La Liga table in the 2019-20, a year after ending up as high as seventh in the standings.

Like Almeria, Diego Martínez’s side are also in danger of getting relegated from La Liga at the end of the season. Espanyol are 13th in the league table at the moment with 20 points from 18 matches, just three points above the relegation zone. The Barcelona-based outfit are above the likes of Sevilla and Getafe in the table, and that should be encouraging for their fans in terms of staving off the dreaded drop to the second tier of Spanish football.

Espanyol will head into the La Liga match against Almeria away from home at the Power Horse Stadium on Friday evening on the back of a 1-0 win against Real Betis at RCDE Stadium in the league. It followed a 1-0 loss at the hands of Athletic Bilbao away from home at San Mames in the Copa del Rey and came after 2-1 win against Getafe on the road in the league.

Team News:

Keidi Bare and Adria Pedrosa are on the sidelines for Espanyol due to injury. Braithwaite will play alongside Joselu in the final third, with Javi Puado playing off the left. Aleix Vidal should get the nod down the right, with Nico Melamed and Ruben Sanchez expected to be among the substitutes for the home side.

Key Factors to Consider

• Almeria have scored 20 goals in 18 La Liga matches.
• Espanyol have scored 22 goals in 18 La Liga matches.
• Almeria have conceded 28 goals in 18 La Liga games.
• Espanyol have conceded 26 goals in 18 La Liga matches.
• Almeria have won 1 of their last 5 La Liga games.

Conclusion

Both Almeria and Espanyol are in real danger of getting relegated from La Liga at the end of the season. The league game between the two sides this weekend will be massive and will huge hugely competitive. Espanyol are in better form, but Almeria are the home team. It is very likely that this match will end in a draw.

Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw

Best Odds: 5/1

Bookmaker: Betfair