2021/22 La Liga champions Real Madrid will begin the defence of their title this Sunday when they travel to Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos to face newly promoted side, Almeria.
Venue: Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos (Almería)
Key Statistics
Almeria won 14 of their home games last season, losing just three and drawing four.
They are unbeaten in their last four home games in the league (three wins and one draw).
Real Madrid have lost just one of their last eight away league games against promoted sides (W6, D1).
Madrid haven’t lost their league opening game since 2008/09 (W9, D4).
They did not keep a clean sheet across their last five La Liga road games last term (W3, D1, L1).
Head to head
Real Madrid have won nine of the last 12 head-to-head meetings between both sides, losing just once in that period.
Latest performances in all competitions
Almeria: L-W-L-W-L
Real Madrid: W-W-D-L-W
Almeria
Seven years after getting relegated to La Liga 2, Almeria are back in the top flight having secured the Segunda División title on the final day last term.
The hosts have been handed perhaps the toughest first assignment possible in their return as they will look to take points off reigning champions Real Madrid.
Fifteen years ago when they first came to La Liga the Andalusian club beat Deportivo La Coruña 3-0 to announce their coming. However, a repeat of those heroics seems unlikely against a Real Madrid team they have lost their last five head-to-head games by an average margin of 4.4 goals.
Their chances of surviving a season in the top flight has been made more complex given the uncertainty surrounding the future of their star striker Umar Sadiq. The Nigerian who scored 19 competitive goals last season is reportedly on his way out of the club, complicating Almeria’s chances of survival this season.
Although they have placed a €30m price tag on the striker to put off potential suitors, it remains to be seen if he will stay around and help the Andalusian club replicate the home form that helped them clinch the Segunda División title last term (W14, D4, L3).
Possible Almeria starting line-up
Fernando Mmartinez; Alejandro Pozo, Rodrigo Ely, Srdjan Babic, Sergio Akieme; Cesar De la Hoz; Samu Costa, Lucas Robertone; Lergie Ramezani, Portillo Soler, Sadiq Umar.
Injured: Leo Baptistao, Ivan Martos, Juanjo Nieto
Doubtful: Arnau Sola
Suspended: None
Real Madrid
Four days after winning their first trophy of the season, Real Madrid will look to begin their defence of the Spanish title with a win when they travel to Almeria on Sunday.
The European champions won the UEFA Super Cup last Wednesday after defeating German side Eintracht Frankfurt in a one-leg final in Helsinki. In an open game at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, goals from David Alaba and Karim Benzema gave Los Blancos the win, helping them secure their fifth Super Cup trophy.
They will now turn their attention to La Liga where they will hope to begin with a win and set the pace for the title early on. Given that they have not lost their league opening game since 2008/09 (W9, D4), they will fancy their chances of recording another opening day win in this game.
Possible Real Madrid starting line-up
Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba; Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric; Rodrigo, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Almeria 0-3 Real Madrid
