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

Granada have only picked up 13 points from their 24 La Liga matches this season, while Almeria are rock bottom on seven points, with the visitors still waiting for their first league win of the campaign.

Match preview

Granada led 2-1 and 3-2 at Barcelona last weekend but were ultimately made to accept a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw, which was an impressive result, but the strugglers are in need of wins at this stage of the season.

The Andalusian outfit boast a record of two wins, seven draws and 15 defeats from 24 league matches this term, which has seen them collect just 13 points, leaving them in 19th position in the table, seven points from the safety of 17th position.

It is not quite time to hit the panic button, but Alexander Medina's side need to find a way of putting some wins on the board if they are to navigate their way out of trouble.

Granada, who are the reigning Segunda Division champions, have secured 11 of their 13 points this season in front of their own supporters, and they will be welcoming an Almeria outfit with just one point to show from their 12 games on their travels during the 2023-24 campaign.

Grana played out a 3-3 draw with Almeria in the reverse match earlier this season, though, and they have actually lost three of their last five La Liga games with Sunday's opponents.

Almeria's problems this season run deeper than Granada's, with the team currently bottom of the table on seven points, 13 points from safety with 14 games left to play.

There is still more than enough time for La Union to escape the relegation zone, but they are still waiting for their first La Liga victory of the campaign, so it would be fair to say that there is not much confidence in their chances of pulling off what would be one of the greatest escapes of all time.

Gaizka Garitano's side actually picked up an impressive point at home to Athletic Bilbao last time out, but much like Granada, they need wins rather than draws.

These two teams have the worst defensive records in Spain's top flight this season, with Granada conceding 48 times in their 24 matches, while Almeria have shipped 51, so it is not difficult to see why they have struggled.

UDA finished 17th in La Liga last season, avoiding relegation to the Segunda Division on a dramatic final day, but they will be operating in the second tier of Spanish football next term unless something extraordinary happens over the next few months.

Granada La Liga form:

W

L

L

L

D

D

Almeria La Liga form:

L

D

L

L

L

D

Team News

Granada will be missing three players through injury on Sunday, with Lucas Boye, Jesus Vallejo and Raul Fernandez unavailable for selection.

The home side will also be without the services of Ignasi Miquel through suspension, as the defender picked up a milestone yellow card during the clash with Barcelona last time out.

Kamil Piatkowski and Gonzalo Villar are both available again following suspensions and should start, while there will be a spot in a wide position for on-loan Manchester United attacker Facundo Pellistri, who was on the scoresheet against the champions last time out.

As for Almeria, Cesar Montes, Luis Suarez and Ibrahima Kone are unavailable for selection due to injury, while Largie Ramazani is suspended following his red card against Athletic last time out.

Leo Baptistao is back from a suspension of his own, though, and the Brazilian is likely to replace Ramazani in the starting side.

Head coach Garitano is otherwise expected to name the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Athletic due to the impressive nature of the performance and result.

Granada possible starting lineup:

Batalla; R Sanchez, Rubio, Piatkowski, Maouassa; Pellistri, Ruiz, Hongla, Villar, Melendo; Uzuni

Almeria possible starting lineup:

Maximiano; Pubill, E Gonzalez, Radovanovic, Centelles; Baba, Lopy; Arribas, Robertone, Baptistao; Lozano

We say: Granada 1-1 Almeria

There is simply no downplaying the importance of this match, as a win for either would be enormous. Draws are no good at this stage, but we are finding it so hard to separate them and have had to settle on a 1-1.

Previews by email