Real Valladolid travel to the South East to face Almeria in a crucial relegation six-pointer in La Liga this Sunday.

These two clubs are among six of the seven current relegation candidates playing against each other this weekend.

Match preview

Almeria enter the weekend knowing that one more win would seal their top-flight survival this season.

Rubi's side had the chance to confirm that in midweek, but an early red card against Champions League-chasing Real Sociedad contributed to an eventual 1-0 defeat.

That was the first time in 12 matches where Almeria failed to find the net, as goalscoring has often been a positive in their first year back at this level.

Their encounter with Mallorca last weekend saw a potential breakout moment for their young Brazilian Lazaro, who netted a hat-trick in a 3-0 win.

Almeria have now won three of their last four home games as a result, during a campaign where they have taken a huge proportion of their points at home, as 32 of their 39 have come here.

That was just the third time in 36 La Liga games where they have kept a clean sheet though - the joint-lowest total in the league alongside already-relegated Elche.

Other results from midweek mean they will be looking over their shoulder again, sitting just one point ahead of their upcoming opponents, who start the weekend in the bottom three.

Almeria do not have the best record against Valladolid either, winning just three of their last 18 encounters with the Blanquivioletas.

Valladolid should come into the fixture on a high as well after a magical night at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla saw them beat champions Barcelona on Tuesday night.

After five successive defeats plunged the club into relegation peril, it was the most pleasant of surprises that Paulo Pezzolano's side raced away with the match to win 3-1.

Cyle Larin played a starring role in the win, scoring and assisting to take his goal contributions into double figures despite only joining in January.

The Canadian scored the winning goal on his first two appearances for the club at the start of 2023 and is now stepping up with crucial strikes again at a pivotal point in the season.

However, Getafe's surprise win at Real Betis a day later means Valladolid remain in the bottom three courtesy of their head-to-head record.

They have the upper hand over Almeria on head-to-head though, after recording a second-straight win over their next opponents in the reverse fixture back in September, and another win here would mean three straight victories over them in the top flight for the first time.

Away form is a cause for concern though, as Valladolid have lost nine of their 12 away matches in 2023, with only Almeria and Elche collecting fewer points on the road in La Liga this season.

Team News

The first-half red card brandished to Luis Suarez means the Almeria forward will be banned for this encounter.

Leo Baptistao is also out with an Achilles tendon injury and El Bilal Toure is a doubt, leaving Rubi with a selection headache up front.

Youngsters Kaiky and Martin Svidersky have both been ruled out, while Chumi is doubtful after a knee injury picked up at the start of the month.

Moroccan trio Selim Amallah, Anuar and Jawad El Yamiq are all set to be sidelined for Valladolid this weekend, but the latter could return in time for the season finale.

Martin Hongla remains suspended after the red card he received against Cadiz last weekend, while Luis Perez and Joaquin Fernandez are set to miss out with injury.

Almeria possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Pozo, Rodrigo Ely, Babic, Akieme; De la Hoz, Robertone, Portillo; Puigmal, Lazaro, Ramazani

Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Jordi Masip; Ivan Fresneda, Torres, Sanchez, Olaza; Oscar Plano, Roque Mesa, Aguado; Plata, Larin, Machis

We say: Almeria 2-2 Real Valladolid

Goals could be in plentiful supply with two of the league's leakiest defences on show, as both are in a group of four teams to have conceded 60+ this season.

There is practically nothing to separate the sides on paper or in the standings, and a tense, close battle awaits.


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