Almeria – Elche : Preview & Prediction
Ahead of Tuesday’s crucial clash against Elche in the 33rd round of LaLiga Santander (LL), the UD Almeria coach introduced several rotations in his team’s visit to Real Madrid, which ended up winning 4-2 (halftime: 3-1) in a match that the Almeria team faced with a day’s rest less than the Whites. Having scored twice against Madrid should give confidence to the red-and-white team, immersed in the dramatic fight for permanence and undefeated in the current championship against the four teams that succeed them in the table (G4, E2).
In their most recent encounter at the Power Horse Stadium against a club from the aforementioned quartet, Almeria took all three points (2-1 vs Valencia), although that has been the only win for Rubi’s side in their last four home games (G1, E1, P2). So far in 2023, the team from the Indálica city has failed to string together wins/draws/losses at its stadium (G3, E2, P4). Almeria will now face a team that is virtually relegated, but which has won in its last two visits to the red-and-white stadium. Since October 2011, the Almeria squad has not kept a clean sheet at home against Elche (UDA: G4, E2, P4).
Elche delayed relegation to the silverware category by giving their long-suffering fans some joy with a hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano (4-0) last Saturday, cutting short a run of six defeats in LL. Bottom, 17 points behind 17th, the franjiverde side have at least avoided ending the campaign with the worst record for a team in the history of the Spanish top flight, surpassing the 13 points of Sporting Gijón (1997-98).
Having been defeated in their previous four outings (GF 1, GC 7), Elche’s relegation will be mathematically confirmed if the franjiverdes fail to record their second away league win of the season (G1, E3, P12) at the Power Horse Stadium. Although their recent record at the Estadio Rojiblanco is encouraging, Almeria have much more than three points at stake in this clash and can end Elche’s three consecutive seasons in Primera.
Players to watch: A Lucas Robertone goal put the final 4-2 at the Bernabeu on Saturday. The Argentine midfielder has scored/assisted nine goals for Almeria in LL this season (G2, A7), with his first direct involvement in one of those goals coming against Elche in August. Tete Morente has three goals in the current campaign, two of them scored between the 40th minute and halftime.
Key stat: Elche have scored just twice in the opening 30 minutes of their LL away games this season.
Almeria – Elche : Betting Tips
Almeria – Win Odds: 1.75
