Real Madrid vs Almeria prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-01-20 15:15.
Less than a month into 2024 and Real Madrid have already won a trophy, claiming the Spanish Super Cup in style by beating rivals Barcelona 4-1 in the final. “If we thought it was easy, we were wrong,” manager Carlo Ancelotti said about the emphatic scoreline, but any lingering celebrations were quickly dampened as they were beaten 4-2 after extra time in Copa del Rey action by Atlético Madrid on Thursday.
Back to La Liga action, Madrid trail leaders Girona by one point but with a game in hand and will now take on bottom side AlmerĂa, against whom they’ve won the last eight H2Hs anywhere and never lost at home (W7). If Los Blancos can put four past Barcelona, then fans will expect more action here, especially as they’ve netted an average of 2.44 goals per home league game this term (W8, D1).
The visitors are still searching for a first league win of the season (D6, L14), although holding high-flying Girona to a 0-0 draw was a good way to restart their campaign after the break. Madrid academy graduate Sergio Arribas was heavily involved for AlmerĂa in that match, and after indirectly helping his former club, he’ll be hoping for a similar performance against his previous employers here.
With AlmerĂa well adrift of safety, it’s no surprise that manager Gaizka Garitano is trying to make new signings with free agent Jonathan Vieira among his targets. But after losing each of their last five league away games by only a one-goal margin, Los Rojiblancos could be expected to put up a good fight despite their appalling H2H record, which includes an 8-1 hammering at the BernabĂ©u in May 2011.
Players to watch: VinĂcius JĂşnior’s first-half hat-trick for Madrid against Barcelona saw him reach nine goals for the season, the last five of which arrived before the 50th minute, while his 73rd-minute goal in August’s reverse fixture remains his latest strike of the season. Arribas (ALM) netted the opener in that fixture but his four subsequent league goals arrived between the 55th and 80th minute.
Hot stat: Madrid have scored a La Liga-high ten goals between half-time and the 60th minute this term.