Football fans have an important week ahead as we race towards the conclusion of major competitions across Europe. There’s no UEFA Champions League or Europa League action this midweek. Still, followers have plenty to keep them entertained thanks to fixtures from the Premier League, Scottish Premiership, La Liga, and other favourites. We focus on the action from Spain, where Almeria hosts Barcelona from 20:30 GMT on Thursday.
Thursday’s game will be the second time these teams have met this season, with the previous encounter gifting followers a five-goal thriller at the Camp Nou. Barca secured a stunning 3-2 home win on that occasion and would love another three points, but we’re certain the coaching staff want to see a more organized and astute showing from the defensive. Will Barca win to do the double over Almeria, or will the hosts gain their revenge by winning an important game? Keep reading for our preview and predictions.
Rock Bottom
Almeria started the week at rock bottom of La Liga and heading towards relegation from the top flight of Spanish football. Dropping out of La Liga will be a huge blow for the locals, who could lose many of their best players while taking a serious financial hit. But the team only has themselves to blame following a dreadful campaign, and they’re in the position they deserve to be after winning just two league games all season. Almeria is already 17 points behind Celta Vigo and safety.
The home team’s league form shows two wins, 11 draws, and 22 defeats, with 35 goals scored and 70 conceded. They’ve lost four of their last six, drawn one, and won the spare. Almeria secured a rare victory when beating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 away from home in a shock result but fell back into old habits when losing 3-2 at Real Betis last time out. There’s not a lot in the home team’s form that inspires confidence.
Barca Chasing Silver
Barcelona started this season as the La Liga champions after upsetting the odds to win the title last year. But the great club was unable to hold onto their prize and watched on as rivals Real Madrid eased to the title. Blancos were almost perfect this season, easing to another stunning title win, and it could get even better. Barcelona’s last hope is to finish second in the table and secure the silver medal position. Will they cross the line as the best of the rest? They certainly have a fight on their hands.
Barca starts this away game with their stats for the season showing 22 wins, seven draws, and five defeats, with 70 goals scored and 43 conceded. They have collected 73 points so far this term, which is already 17 fewer than Real Madrid, with second-placed Girona in second on 75 points. Missing out on the league title is a huge blow, but finishing third in La Liga would be a source of embarrassment for the fans.
Almeria vs Barcelona Prediction
Almeria holds the home advantage for this game and has secured a rare win recently, but it’s difficult to make a strong case for them to win this game and collect another three points. They have little to aim for in the closing weeks and will have one eye on a summer rebuild ahead of their relegation to the second tier. They did score two against Barca last year and have been in scoring form recently, but it would take a huge effort to win here.
Barcelona knows this season has fallen well short of the club’s usual high standards, and the message in pre-season is to build stronger for a big push next term. But Barca must finish in second place to ensure things don’t get any worse. They’re in decent form and already know they can hurt the Almeria defence. An away win is the most likely outcome if both teams are at their best.
La Liga Odds
22Bet members can gamble on this game with a long list of pre-match betting odds available. The match-winner market has Barcelona as the early favourites to secure the points, and you can support the visitors at 1.47. If you prefer Almeria to make home advantage count and pile pressure on their visitors, you can back the locals to win at 5.97 or try your luck on a draw that trades at 4.99.
In addition to match-winner betting, 22Bet offers a long list of alternative and exciting markets. These include both teams to score, handicap, total goals, half-time/full-time, and plenty more. Browse the markets, find the value, and bet.
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