Almeria-Espanyol is a match on the 19th day of La Liga and is played on Friday at 21:00: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
The La Liga table, with one day to go before the end of the first half of the season, continues to be very short at the bottom. The only team that now seems doomed is Elche, last on six points, far from the salvation zone. For the rest, from Rino Gattuso’s Valencia, 12th, to Real Valladolid, third-last, there is a gap of just four points.
In this large group we also find Almeria and Espanyol, who will both be protagonists in the advance of the 19th round of the Spanish top league. Despite being out of the relegation zone, neither of them can feel safe. It is the Catalans who are ahead, but the Andalusians follow at just a pasting. Since La Liga resumed, Almeria have picked up three points in four matches, but the last two draws have a specific weight, considering they came against two technically superior opponents such as Atletico Madrid and Valencia. Particularly surprising was the reaction on Monday at the Mestalla, against a team that was hungry for points and had twice taken the lead (2-2). There will be a fight to keep their category, but Rubi’s men are showing they can do it.
Diego Martinez’s Espanyol, who are unbeaten since returning to the game, are not doing so bad either. The point they picked up in the derby against Barcelona provided the impetus for the Catalans, who, after dropping out of the Copa del Rey via Athletic Bilbao, secured their second win in a row. Last Saturday, a goal from ex-Barça man Braithwaite castigated a team in contention for Europe, Betis (1-0).
Braithwaite
The Prediction
This has all the air of being a very balanced and drawn challenge between two teams going through a good moment. Almeria, eighth in home performances, should avoid defeat in a match with a total of less than four goals. A draw cannot be ruled out.
The likely line-up for Almeria-Espanyol
- ALMERIA (4-3-3): Martinez; Mendes, Chumi, Rodrigo Ely, Akieme; Robertone, Samu Costa, Melero; Baptistao, Touré, Ramazani.
- ESPANYOL (4-4-2): Fernandez; Gil, Montes, Cabrera, Olivan; Vidal, Souza, Darder, Puado; Joselu, Braithwaite.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
