Almeria’s quest to secure their inaugural triumph of the 2023-24 La Liga season persists as they face Sevilla at Power Horse Stadium on Monday evening.
The host team remains entrenched at the bottom of the league standings, having garnered a mere nine points from 27 matches thus far. This places them 15 points adrift from safety with 11 games remaining. In contrast, Sevilla occupies the 14th position, enjoying an eight-point cushion above the relegation zone.
Match preview
In the probable absence of any remarkable developments during the final phases of the campaign, Almeria is poised to participate in Segunda Division competition in the forthcoming season.
It is indisputable that La Union has endured a profoundly disappointing campaign, evidenced by their tally of zero victories, nine draws, and 18 losses from 27 matches, resulting in a mere nine points accumulated. Consequently, they presently occupy the bottommost position on the league table, with 11 matches remaining.
Gaizka Garitano’s team trails 17th-placed Celta Vigo by a margin of 15 points and approaches their upcoming fixture following a 1-0 defeat against Rafael Benitez’s squad, significantly diminishing their already slender prospects of avoiding relegation.
Almeria had managed to secure three consecutive draws against Athletic Bilbao, Granada, and Atletico Madrid before suffering a narrow defeat to Celta on March 1. Their home record stands as the poorest in the division, having garnered merely seven points from 13 matches played in front of their home crowd.
In a previous encounter earlier this season, UDA suffered a 5-1 defeat against Sevilla. However, they did secure a 2-1 victory in the corresponding fixture during the 2022-23 campaign. Sevilla concluded the previous season in 12th place, marking their lowest final position in La Liga since their relegation at the conclusion of the 1999-2000 season.
This season, Los Nervionenses have encountered difficulties, presently occupying the 14th position in the table with 27 points from 27 matches. Despite this, they currently enjoy an eight-point cushion above the relegation zone.
Quique Sanchez Flores’s squad appears to have experienced an upturn in form over the past month, with three victories, one draw, and one defeat in their last five league fixtures, including notable wins against Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad, as well as a narrow 1-0 loss to Real Madrid.
Sevilla has accumulated 10 points from their 13 away matches this season, securing just two victories in the process. However, there has been a discernible improvement in their last two away outings, as evidenced by a goalless draw against Valencia and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid.
It is improbable that the club will participate in European football next season, as they currently trail sixth-placed Real Betis by a margin of 15 points. Consequently, Sevilla will likely shift their focus towards a more successful domestic campaign.
Team News
Almeria’s lineup for Monday evening will be impacted by the suspension of Bruno Langa, who received a red card during the previous match against Celta. Additionally, Leo Baptistao will be absent due to a muscular injury, while Luis Suarez and Ibrahima Kone are uncertain to feature, casting doubts over their availability for the struggling team.
Garitano, the head coach, is anticipated to maintain the majority of the starting lineup from the previous match against Celta, although Langa’s absence creates an opportunity for Alex Pozo to fill in at left-back.
Sevilla, on the other hand, faces a significant injury crisis with several key players sidelined. Juanlu Sanchez, Jesus Navas, Joan Jordan, Erik Lamela, Lucien Agoume, Marcao, and Dodi Lukebakio are all unavailable due to injuries. Additionally, Marcos Acuna, Mariano Diaz, and Nemanja Gudelj are uncertain to play, potentially leaving the visitors with up to 10 absentees for the upcoming match.
Youssef En-Nesyri, who delivered an impressive performance in the previous fixture against Real Sociedad by scoring twice, is expected to once again partner with Isaac Romero in the attacking third for Sevilla.
Almeria possible starting lineup:
Maximiano; Pubill, Gonzalez, Radovanovic, Pozo; Baba, Robertone; Romero, Viera, Embarba; Lozano
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Bade, Nianzou, Ramos, Salas, Pedrosa; Suso, Soumare, Torres; Romero, En-Nesyri