UD Almería vs Valencia CF Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Preview

Joel Amorim May 18, 2015 @ 12:57 am

Next Saturday, 23rd of May 2015, Nuno Espirito Santo’s super Valencia will travel to Andalusia to measure forces with the relegation threatened Almeria at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos for the last round of the Spanish Liga BBVA.

It was all set at Mestalla for Valencia to celebrate their return to Champions League next season but Celta showed very early on the match that they didn’t intend to take part of the celebrations. The Galician team open the score on the 7th minute of match, thanks to a well placed header from Pablo Hernandez after a corner from Nolito. The goal opened breaches on Valencia’s structure and during the first-half they didn’t even seemed to try to upset Celta’s goalie Sergio Alvarez. After the break, Nuno Espirito Santo produced some changes and Los Che benefited a lot when De Paul replaced Piatti on the 58th minute. The Argentinian midfielder offered a different pace to the team and Valencia started an attacking avalanche against Celta’s goal. On one of those attempts, the former FC Porto centre back Nicolas Otamendi placed the ball in the net after an incomplete stop from Sergio Alvarez and granted Valencia the equalizer.

The upcoming match at Andalusia will definitely not be easy, especially if we have in mind that Almeria are still battling against relegation. Valencia cannot afford another slip-up, otherwise they will risk being overthrown by Sevilla at La Liga’s table and lose a place at the Champions League qualifying round next season.

As for Almeria, the Rojiblancos almost produced a surprise at Sanchez Pizjuan last Sunday. A first-half goal from Bifouma gave Almeria the lead and Sevilla only managed to change the course of the match after minute 65th, already during the second-half. Two goals from the former Levante’s player Iborra complicated things for Almeria, who now need to win their last match against Valencia and wait that their closest relegation contenders lose their respective matches in order for them to secure a place in the Spanish football top tier next season.

Sergi Barjuan’s arrival at Almeria was a breath of fresh air to the team and because of that it is fair to make the following question: had he arrived sooner this season, would he had been able to save Almeria from an hypothetical relegation?

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