Almeria vs Espanyol predictions and match preview for Friday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as Diego Martinez’s team visit Andalusia.
| Date | Friday 27th January 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 21:00 (CET) |
| Stadium | Power Horse |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Almeria vs Espanyol Preview
Almeria and Espanyol meet in the Friday night game in LaLiga and it promises to be a good one. Both sides are quite positive and have a goal in them but both also possess some fairly obvious defensive flaws.
That’s certainly true of the hosts who have taken a bit of a risk by not strengthening that area of the pitch so far this month. Only 3 teams have let in more goals than Almeria in LaLiga 2022/23 and they’ve only managed one clean sheet which is a big concern given we will hit the halfway point in the season this weekend.
Their ability to score goals does offer real hope that they will beat the drop though and it has continued to get them out of trouble. That was the case again on Monday night as they twice came from behind to claim a good 2-2 draw at Mestalla. Francisco Portillo, little more than a fringe player this term, was their hero in Valencia with a well taken equaliser to make it 2-2. The range of options they have in the final third is certainly impressive for a bottom half team.
Espanyol have also struggled defensively this season but they have looked to address that concern with the January signing of Cesar Montes. The 25 year old has already been capped 33 times by Mexico and he has been thrust straight into the team. The early signs have been positive too with Montes’ first two league games coinciding with Espanyol winning back-to-back matches in LaLiga for the first time this season.
At the other end of the pitch, Martin Braithwaite chipped in with the only goal against Real Betis last time out and they are four unbeaten in the league overall. That’s a positive sign that Diego Martinez’s reign now really has liftoff and they should have enough about them to kick on and steer well clear of the relegation scrap.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Almeria
| INJURED | |
| DOUBTFUL | Kaiky |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Fernando – Akieme, Chumi, Ely, Mendes – Samu, Robertone – Ramazani, Melero, Baptistao – Toure (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Rubi
Espanyol
| INJURED | Bare, Pedrosa |
| DOUBTFUL | |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Alvaro Fernandez – Olivan, Cabrera, Montes, Gil – Puado, Darder, Souza, Vidal – Braithwaite, Joselu (4-4-2)
Coach: Diego Martinez
Score Prediction: Almeria 2-2 Espanyol
This has all the makings of a game that should produce goals. Almeria’s home record against the weaker teams is very good this season with five wins out of five at the Power Horse Stadium against sides not currently in the top 7. However Espanyol look like an upwardly mobile team now and they look capable of getting a result to extend their unbeaten run since the World Cup.
PLEASE NOTE – Our LaLiga predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.
