Espanyol’s season ends here against Almeria and it couldn’t come too soon for Ernesto Valverde’s men. They have had a disasterous second half of the season, losing thirteen games, drawing three and winning three since the beginning of the year. Luckily they started the season in style and now don’t have to worry about relegation, but their European dreams died a long time ago. The future of coach Valverde is still very much up in the air, as the club’s directors can’t figured out how he allowed the team to drop from third in the league to eleventh in just a few short months.
Almeria’s first season back in the top flight of Spanish football has been much more positive, though. Back in August they were the bookie’s favorite to go straight back down to the second division, but they have more than held their own and could even finish in eighth position if they can get a win here. The end of the season however has taken its toll on the new boys, and Almeria have won just twice in their last seven matches, including that embarrassing six goal to two thumping at the hands of Atlético Madrid. They are currently on a two game losing streak and, while this game won’t make too much difference to the outcome of the league, they will surely want to finish winning.
Espanyol haven’t won a game since the middle of March and I can’t see that changing here. Why their game has dropped by such a dramatic degree is a mystery, although they have been plagued by injuries to their top players. I’m going for an Almeria win here, while Espanyol at least have the comfort of knowing that they still have a place in next season’s La Liga to get things sorted out.
Prediction: Away win (0-1)