Almeria vs Barcelona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-05-15 19:30.
[p]After conceding twice inside the opening half-hour, already-relegated AlmerĂa lost 3-2 to Real Betis at the weekend as they failed to post a third win of their league campaign. With only pride – and potentially leapfrogging Granada to climb off the foot of the table – left to play for, the Rojiblancos will be determined to avoid rewriting La Liga history, as no side has finished a Spanish top-flight season with as few as their 17 points this century![/p]
[p]Both of their measly two league victories this term came on the road, so the AlmerĂa players will be determined to finally give their home fans something to cheer about as the season nears its end. A three-match losing streak here – with the last two seeing them reduced to ten men – suggests that’s a tall order, as does the calibre of opponent as Barcelona come to town.[/p]
[p]A goal in each half gave Barcelona a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad on Monday for only their second victory in five matches (L3). That gave the Blaugrana control of their own destiny as they tussle with Girona for second place, and Xavi’s men can’t afford complacency here after a hard-fought 3-2 win in this season’s reverse fixture followed a 1-0 defeat on this ground last campaign.[/p]
[p]That was the only H2H loss they’ve suffered across 17 meetings however (W14, D2), so Barça will likely be confident they can get back to winning ways on the road after losing their last two such trips against Real Madrid and Girona. Failure to do so could result in an unwanted piece of history too, as Barcelona haven’t lost three consecutive away league games since December 2002![/p]
[p]Players to watch: Sergio Arribas has scored five of his last six league goals at this venue, four of which arrived after half-time. Robert Lewandowski also has a knack for striking late, with five of his last six league goals coming beyond the interval.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: AlmerĂa have scored exactly one first-half goal in nine of their last 11 league games.[/p]