Preview: Almeria vs. Valencia - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts will enter the contest off the back of a 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo last Sunday, while Los Che drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano on Monday night.

Match preview

Almeria spent seven straight seasons in the Segunda Division before securing a return to Spain's top flight, and they face a battle to retain their status at this level for another campaign.

La Union boast a record of seven wins, six draws and 14 defeats from their 27 league games this season, which has left them 19th in the table on 27 points.

Rubi's side are level on points with 17th-placed Valencia, though, and sit just three points behind 14th-placed Getafe, so a lot could change in a relatively short space of time.

Almeria have not been victorious in the league since beating Barcelona at the end of February, picking up just two points from their last four matches, which have been draws in their last two against Cadiz and Celta Vigo.

UDA have incredibly picked up 23 of their 27 points on home soil this season, boasting the seventh-best record in front of their own fans, and they will be welcoming a Valencia outfit that have collected just six points on their travels during the 2022-23 campaign.

Valencia's first match after the international break was Monday's home game against Rayo Vallecano, and Los Che needed a late Justin Kluivert penalty to secure a share of the spoils.

The draw moved Ruben Baraja's side out of the relegation zone and into 17th, but they are level on points with two of the three teams in the bottom three.

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a hugely disappointing campaign for Valencia, and their relegation to the Segunda Division would be one of the biggest shocks in the history of La Liga.

Los Che have not played outside of Spain's top flight since 1987, while they finished fourth in 2019, but the Spanish giants are now facing the prospect of dropping down a level for 2023-24.

Since Baraja's arrival as head coach in the middle of February, Valencia have won two, drawn one and lost three of their six matches, and they have some huge games to come this month, facing Sevilla, Elche, Real Valladolid and Cadiz before the end of April.

Almeria La Liga form:

L

W

L

L

D

D

Valencia La Liga form:

L

W

L

W

L

D

Team News

Almeria will again be missing Sergio Akieme and El Bilal Toure through injury for this contest.

Dyego Sousa remains a doubt for the home side, but there will be a return to the squad for Inigo Eguaras, who was suspended for the draw with Celta last time out.

Cesar de la Hoz is expected to return to the starting side in midfield, having been on the bench against Celta, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against the Sky Blues, with Luis Suarez and Leo Bapistao playing as a front two.

As for Valencia, Jaume Domenech remains a long-term absentee with a serious knee injury, while Gabriel Paulista is again expected to miss out for the visitors on Sunday.

Los Che have no other fitness concerns, but Baraja could make changes from Monday's game against Rayo Vallecano, with Yunus Musah and Hugo Duro potentially coming into the side.

Kluivert should retain his spot on the left side of the attack, while Samuel Lino and Andre Almeida are also set to start for the visitors in this contest.

Almeria possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Chumi, Ely, Babic, Centelles; Puigmal, Melero, De la Hoz, Robertone; Suarez, Baptistao

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Correia, Diakhaby, Ozkacar, Gaya; Almeida, Guillamon, Musah; Kluivert, Duro, Lino

We say: Almeria 1-1 Valencia

Valencia have the third-worst away record in the league this season, so we are finding it tough to back them to secure all three points. Almeria's impressive home form this term makes them the favourites, but we just have a feeling that the points will be shared in this contest.

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