Real Valladolid will welcome Almeria this Monday in another exciting La Liga fixture.
Venue: Estadio José Zorrilla (Valladolid)
Key Statistics
Real Valladolid have failed to score in two of their opening three league games.
They are without a win in their last 16 top-flight games.
Almería have led at the end of both halves in just one of their last seven league games in either division.
The visitors have scored four times and conceded four times in the league this season.
Head to head
Almería have won just one of the last nine meetings between both sides. Real Valladolid have four wins in that period.
Latest performances in all competitions
Real Valladolid: L-D-L-D-D
Almería: W-D-L-L-W
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid host Almería at the Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla on Monday night.
La Pucelle are without a win so far this season recording one win and two losses which sees them occupying a lowly 19th place in the La Liga tables.
Real Valladolid travelled to Catalunya last Saturday to take on Barcelona in the Camp Nou and were totally blown away by the Spanish giants who hit four goals past them. The game against Xavi Hernandez’s team was never a contest, as they comfortably controlled proceedings for the entirety of the game.
After three rounds of football, Real Valladolid have now conceded eight goals and scored just one, a stat that will surely give any manager a major concern.
Having been relegated to the second tier in the 2020-2021 season under the management of Sergio Gonzalez, Real Valladolid owner Ronaldo Nazario brought in Jose Pacheta to help steer the team back into Spain’s top tier division and the Spaniard delivered on his first attempt finishing second to earn promotion.
The Spanish coach will now look to overcome a team who beat them to the title last season, a feat which they failed to achieve last season.
Jose Pacheta can look to his familiarity and experience playing Almeria as motivation going into the encounter and it will be up to him to prep his boys as they seek to secure their first top-flight victory of the season and get one over a team that they failed to beat over two legs last season, managing just one draw.
Possible Real Valladolid starting line-up
Jordi Masip; Luis Perez, Javi Sanchez, Joaquin Fernandez, Sergio Escudero; Monchu, Kike Perez, Alvaro Aguado; Ivan Sanchez, Sergio Guardiola, Anuar.
Injured: Shon Weissman, Gonzalo Plata
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Almeria
Almeria finally returned to the Spanish top flight after seven seasons.
The Andalusia-based outfit have looked to play the same kind of ambitious football which won them the La Liga smart bank last season.
Joan Rubió’s team played some entertaining kind of football last season, which endeared fans all over the world and did just about enough to ensure that there was no late drama as they brought back La Liga football to the Estadio de Los Juegos Mediterráneos.
Almeria opened their La Liga season with a home game against La Liga Champions Real Madrid and put in a solid display on the night, however, the gulf in quality came to separate the two teams as scored two goals in the space of 15 minutes to secure all three points from Joan Rubi’s men who had earlier lead through Largie Ramazani.
The La Liga newcomers followed up their loss to Real Madrid with yet another commendable performance against Elche. Despite being reduced to ten men in the 32nd minute, Joan Rubió’s men remained disciplined to eke out a draw.
Almeria, however, come into this encounter off the back of an impressive 2-1 win over Sevilla last Saturday. Goals from Largie Ramazani and Umar Sadiq earned a comeback victory over Julen Lopetegui’s men, but head coach Joan Rubió will have to do without the services of the Nigerian Striker who has since moved on to Real Sociedad.
Despite the loss of the Nigerian striker who was their top scorer for last season, Joan Rubió will feel fairly confident about getting all three points against an all too familiar enemy.
Possible Almería starting line-up
Fernando Martinez; Alejandro Pozo, Rodrigo Ely, Srdjan Babic, Kaiky Melo, Sergio Akieme; Samu Costa, Lucas Robertone, Curro Sanchez; Inigo Eguaras, Lergie Ramezani.
Injured: Ivan Martos, Juanjo Nieto,
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Alex Centelles
Prediction
Valladolid 1-1 Almeria
